TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Postal Service Job Losses

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with Communication Workers Union regarding projected job losses in the postal service.

Patricia Hewitt: While Ministers have had discussions with the Communication Workers Union on a range of issues, the cost-saving proposals announced by Consignia are an operational issue for the company in consultation with the unions.

Chemicals Industry

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the chemicals industry in the north-west of England.

Brian Wilson: The chemical sector forms one of the north-west region's most important clusters. It accounts for 22 per cent. of the UK chemical industry. It contains the highest concentration in the country of the faster growing speciality and fine chemicals companies, supplying new markets such as electronics, pharmaceuticals and consumer products.

Aerospace Industry

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the prospects for the aerospace component manufacturing industry in 2002.

Brian Wilson: As the hon. Member will be aware, the severe downturn in air travel following 11 September has resulted in a reduction in orders for new aircraft and a lower demand for aircraft repair and maintenance. This is inevitably having an adverse effect on the aerospace component manufacturing industry, which is likely to persist throughout 2002. However, all possible steps are being taken to restore passenger confidence and there are signs that this is starting to return. The Government believe that the long-term prospects for the industry remain good, and that market growth will return to its former level.

Gas and Electricity Suppliers

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to eradicate sales malpractices by gas and electricity suppliers.

Brian Wilson: Regulation of energy suppliers is for the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). Ofgem has already, with our strong encouragement, put in place specific marketing and sales rules for suppliers that go beyond those in general consumer law, and will shortly consult on extending these rules. Energywatch, the statutory consumer body established under the Utilities Act 2000, recently launched its "Stop Now!" campaign to combat unscrupulous sales practices. I wrote to all suppliers in November making clear that, if they do not address the problem of dishonest sales, those of us concerned with energy supply will need to look again at how best to protect consumers.

Technology (Telford)

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with Advantage West Midlands in relation to technology investment in Telford.

Alan Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry met the Board of Advantage West Midlands to discuss region-wide issues such as manufacturing and the region's proposals to become a Manufacturing Beacon; clearly this will have an impact on Telford. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and other DTI Ministers, also attend regular meetings of the RDA Chairs, including Advantage West Midlands, where a wide range of issues is discussed, including its broadband and technology cluster proposals.

Higher Education

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place between her Department and the Department for Education and Skills on modifications to the research assessment exercise in higher education.

Patricia Hewitt: As mentioned in the Science and Innovation White paper "Excellence and Opportunity", my Department will monitor the modified guidance for the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise, and we shall be discussing the issues arising with the Department for Education and Skills, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Inward Investment

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what actions she is taking to encourage inward investment from Japan and South Korea.

Patricia Hewitt: I visited South Korea and Japan from 7–12 January and met existing and prospective investors in both individual and group meetings, including a meeting with senior representatives of the Japanese automotive industry in Tokyo.
	The Invest UK teams in both South Korea and Japan organise a series of initiatives, including marketing programmes, company calls, seminars, company visits to the UK, and attendance at trade fairs, all aimed at encouraging companies to invest in the United Kingdom.
	The attractions of the United Kingdom mean that this country remains the number one location for South Korean and Japanese foreign direct investment in the European Union. To maintain this position, in the face of difficult global economic conditions, Invest UK has intensified its efforts at attracting knowledge-driven, high value investments in the ICT, automotive, life sciences and financial services sectors.

Manufacturing

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Government assistance for exports from the UK manufacturing industry.

Nigel Griffiths: British manufacturers account for over 60 per cent. of total British exports.
	This year we are spending some £69 million through British Trade International to help British exporters access the information, skills and contacts they need to trade successfully overseas.
	In addition, the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) helps British exporters to compete overseas. Last year it underwrote £5.6 billion of new business.

Manufacturing

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to improve productivity in manufacturing industry.

Brian Wilson: Since 1997 we have established a stable macro-economic framework to ensure the future competitiveness and productivity of British manufacturing. We have built on this basis with policies to promote the spread of best practice, encourage innovation, raise skills levels and improve the transfer of ideas from the science base.

Manufacturing

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the state of manufacturing industry.

Brian Wilson: Manufacturing production is weak across the industrialised countries, including in the UK. The Government's policies are designed to assist the manufacturing sector improve its competitiveness and future prospects.

Work Life Balance Challenge Fund

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many organisations have received funding from the work life balance challenge fund.

Patricia Hewitt: 176 organisations.

Social Entrepreneurship

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the contribution social entrepreneurship can make to the UK economy.

Patricia Hewitt: The past lack of a common definition of social enterprise means that there is currently no reliable data on the contribution it makes to the UK economy. DTl's Social Enterprise Unit, working with academics and others, is reviewing existing research and identifying how best to map and evaluate social enterprise.

Fireworks

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent consultation has taken place with trading standards officers on the subject of fireworks.

Melanie Johnson: I have sought feedback from trading standards departments on enforcement activities in respect of the fireworks safety regulations.

Fireworks

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will answer the letters of 30 November 2001 and 10 January 2002 from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West regarding nuisance fireworks.

Melanie Johnson: I will reply to the hon. Member shortly.

Wind Energy

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met National Assembly secretaries to discuss wind energy in Wales; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: DTI Ministers and officials have regular contact with Ministers and officials of the National Assembly on a range of issues including wind energy.
	The Government have set an ambitious target for renewable energy and the development of wind energy in Wales will make an important contribution.

Wind Energy

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Government have made of the environmental impact of wind farms.

Brian Wilson: Each proposed wind turbine installation is subject to some environmental evaluation prior to its construction. For proposed wind farms involving more than a single turbine, whether onshore or offshore, a full environmental impact assessment by an independent consultant is generally required.
	A number of studies, conducted both within the DTI's Sustainable Energy Programme and outside, have looked in detail at environmental effects of wind farms. These include studies on noise, birds, other wildlife, visual impact, electromagnetic interference, and the cumulative effects of wind turbines on a locality.

Information and Consultation Directive

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the impact of the information and consultation directive on British business.

Alan Johnson: The directive will help reinforce what the Government are already doing to promote partnership at work, and through partnership to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of British business.

Barcelona Summit

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her objectives will be at the forthcoming Barcelona summit with special reference to industrial competitiveness.

Patricia Hewitt: At the Lisbon summit in March 2000, Heads of Government acknowledged that Europe needed major structural reform to succeed in the global economy and that companies needed flexible, strong and open markets to enable them to improve their competitive position and create new jobs. The summit set out two ambitious goals: to make the EU the most competitive economy in the world and to create full employment by 2010. The Barcelona summit marks the end of the second year of this 10-year programme.
	The Government are a strong supporter of the Lisbon agenda and want the Barcelona summit to reaffirm the EU's commitment to economic reform. In doing this we need to take stock and evaluate progress against the conclusions agreed at Lisbon and set out a future programme of work to ensure that momentum is maintained.
	The EU has made good progress in a number of areas—for example, updating the regulation of telecommunications—but progress has been less encouraging in others. We are still waiting for agreement on a Community Patent and updated public procurement rules. We will be looking to Barcelona to give a political push in those areas where negotiations have progressed less positively.

Postal Services

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she next expects to meet Consignia management to discuss their business plan for 2002–03.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has regular meetings with Consignia management to discuss a range of issues relating to the future of the company.

Postal Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of the universal service obligation for mail delivery services.

Douglas Alexander: The Government consider the maintenance of a universal postal service in this country to be of the highest importance. That is why we enshrined the obligation in primary legislation in the Postal Services Act 2000 and gave the postal regulator (Postcomm) the primary duty to exercise its functions in a manner best calculated to ensure the provision of a universal postal service. It is therefore for Postcomm to determine how the universal service obligation is implemented in the interests of consumers. Currently Postcomm requires Consignia plc, in the licence, to provide a universal postal service.

Technology Transfer

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what she is doing to encourage technology transfer from academia to industry.

Brian Wilson: The Government's White Paper, "Excellence and Opportunity: a science and innovation policy for the 21st century", published last July, set out a comprehensive range of measures to help promote technology transfer from academia to industry; and we have made some excellent progress here.
	Last October we announced awards totalling over £100 million to help universities grow their capability to interact with business and to realise the business opportunities offered by science—including further science enterprise centres and seed-corn funding to assist the transformation of good research into good business. We have doubled the number of new starts for Faraday Partnerships to link the science base to business networks, and expect to have reached our target for a national network of 24 partnerships by the end of the year. We have increased our funding of the successful TCS scheme.
	Total TCS activity grew by 25 per cent. during 2001; from 730 to 918 current TCS programmes. TCS enables universities and businesses to work together using high calibre graduates drawing on academic support and expertise while they work in companies on "business- driven" projects.
	We are also continuing to provide support for collaborative research and development under the Link programme and have committed £12 million in 2000–01 to a further round of Foresight Link Awards projects complementing current Link programmes in Foresight priority areas.

Correspondence

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to reply to the letter dated 24 September 2001 from the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East on fines for the non-delivery of accounts to Companies House.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 17 January 2002
	I replied on 13 February 2002.

Single Tier Exemption

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations her Department has received since the Trading Schemes Act 1996 to amend the definition of single tier established in the Fair Trading Act 1973, so that more than a single master franchise of a trading scheme may be permitted in the UK; if proposals permitting a change to exempt certain multi-level schemes were considered in her Department when drawing up S.I., 1997, No. 1887; if she will place in the Library details of her considerations in opting to maintain the single tier exemption in 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 15 January 2002
	Current legislation on trading schemes does not prohibit more than one master franchise from operating in the UK. However, each master franchise would have to comply with the relevant provisions of the trading schemes legislation.
	The legislation is intended to protect scheme participants or potential participants whose ability to take commercial risks is similar to that of consumers and not to restrict normal business format transactions. The 1997 regulations therefore exclude from controls single-tier schemes or schemes where participants are registered for VAT. Some exemption of certain multi-level schemes was considered but it was concluded that this carried the risk of creating loopholes in the controls.
	A copy of the summary of responses to the consultation which preceded the 1997 regulations has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Enron

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will establish an inquiry into the implications for UK corporate accounting practice of the collapse of Enron.

Melanie Johnson: No. There are major differences between the accounting requirements in the UK and the US, which make it unlikely that the principal accounting factors we understand to have been involved in the collapse of Enron would be replicated here. We are, however, following developments in the US. The UK Accounting Standards Board has been playing a leading role for some time in international discussions of accounting requirements in this area.

Enron

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when, and by whom, the relevant ministers were informed of the problems at Enron Corporation.

Brian Wilson: In accordance with previous Administrations it is not our practice to disclose internal advice to Ministers which is exempt under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on access to Government information.

Dual-use Export Licences

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many dual-use export licences have been granted for the category code 5A001b4a since 1997; how many items were contained within each export licence application granted; and what were the countries of destination and the end-users for the equipment.

Nigel Griffiths: It would entail disproportionate cost to establish the number of licences issued by destination for the category code 5A001.b.4.a since 1997.
	Details of all export licences, including those for digitally controlled radio receivers controlled under category code 5A001, are published by destination in the Government's annual reports on strategic export controls. Copies of the 1997,1998, 1999 and 2000 annual reports are available in the Libraries of the House. The 2001 annual report will be published as soon as possible.

Small Businesses (Regulatory Burden)

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses resulting from the implementation of EU directives.

Nigel Griffiths: To tackle European policy initiatives that unfairly burden British small firms, the Small Business Service has set up smallbusinesseurope which lobbies for small business interest while European directives are being framed. To avoid unnecessary and over-complex implementation of European directives in the UK, this Government have produced essential guidance for policy officials—the Guide to Better European Regulations, and the Transposition Checklist. Transposition Notes help avoid 'gold-plating' by showing up any potential over-implementation, enabling it to be addressed. These notes have accompanied primary or secondary legislation that gives effect to European directives, easing scrutiny both by Parliament and business, since November 2001.

Departmental Secondments (Energy Industry)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff were seconded between (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and her Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Patricia Hewitt: Centrally held records show the numbers of secondments to and from each of the companies listed in the years specified as:
	
		Inward secondments to the DTI
		
			 Name 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 BP Amoco 0 1 0 
			 BP 0 0 1 
			 Shell 1 1 2 
			 Enron 0 0 0 
			 Exxon Mobil 0 0 0 
			 Conoco 0 0 0 
			 Texaco 0 0 0 
			 TotalFinaElf 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		Outward secondment from the DTI
		
			 Name 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 BP Amoco 0 1 0 
			 BP Gas Marketing Ltd. 1 0 0 
			 Shell 0 0 0 
			 Enron 0 0 0 
			 Exxon Mobil 0 0 0 
			 Conoco 0 0 0 
			 Texaco 0 0 0 
			 TotalFinaElf 0 0 0

Independent Non-executive Directors

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to encourage companies to appoint independent non-executive directors.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government's approach to this issue was set out in the pre-Budget report, which stated:
	"The Myners review highlighted the importance of non-executive directors in UK corporate governance. The Company Law Review drew attention to a growing body of evidence from the US suggesting that companies with a strong contingent of non-executives produce superior performance. The Government recognises the importance of continued progress in this area, and of developing further the role of strong, independent non-executive directors within the present best practice framework of corporate governance for quoted companies."
	We consider that effective non-executive directors have a key role to play in contributing to the success of their companies. This is an area where the Government believe that there is room for improvement. We regularly discuss this issue with institutional investors and other leading business organisations, and recognise and appreciate the work they do in raising the effectiveness of non- executive directors.

BNFL

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many copies of BNFL Inc.'s 1998 accounts were (a) printed and (b) distributed by BNFL Inc.

Brian Wilson: This is a matter for BNFL. I have asked the chief executive of BNFL to write to the hon. Gentleman.

Secondments

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff were seconded between (a) PWC Consulting and PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Ernst and Young, (c) Deloitte and Touche, (d) KPMG and (e) Andersen and her Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Patricia Hewitt: Centrally held records show the numbers of secondments to and from each of the companies listed in the years specified as:
	
		Secondments into DTI
		
			 Company name 1999–2000 2000–01 April 2001 to date 
		
		
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 1 0 0 
			 Ernst and Young 1 0 1 
			 Deloitte and Touche 1 1 0 
			 KPMG 0 1 2 
			 Andersen 0 0 0 
		
	
	Secondments from DTI
	There were no secondments to the companies listed from the DTI in the periods covered.

Office of Fair Trading

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a code of conduct exists for the Office of Fair Trading when investigating complaints against companies; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 4 February 2002
	The conduct of the Office of Fair Trading is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading.

Ispat International

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list meetings between (a) Department Ministers and (b) senior departmental officials and representatives of Ispat International between May 1997 and December 2001, indicating the date of each meeting.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 4 February 2002
	Ministers, special advisers and officials in my Department regularly meet a wide range of representatives from business. However, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply of 19 November 2001 Official Report, column 102W makes clear, it is not normal practice to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies

Ispat International

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings were held between her Department and representatives of LNM/Ispat International since May 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists. Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis, and in order to preserve confidentiality, it is not the normal practice of Governments to release specific details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

Broadband

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of companies had access to broadband technology in (a) St. Helens South, (b) the St. Helens MBC area, (c) Merseyside, (d) Manchester, (e) the North-West RDA area, (f) the other RDA areas and (g) England in each of the last three years.

Douglas Alexander: A map showing geographical availability of broadband services can be found in the UK online annual report, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Research and Development

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of private sector investment in research and development as a share of GDP was made in (a) St. Helens South, (b) the St. Helens MBC area, (c) Merseyside, (d) Manchester, (e) the North-West RDA area, (f) other RDA areas and (g) England in each of the last 12 months.

Brian Wilson: Data on research and development (R&D) spending are not available on a monthly basis or for the exact geographies requested. The Office for National Statistics do, however, conduct an annual survey of R&D performed in business enterprise (BERD). Sub-regional data are available from this survey for 2000 but GDP is only available at a Government office region level (equivalent to RDA regions) for 1999 and at a sub-regional level for 1998. The table only covers own-funded BERD ie R&D performed in that region which was funded by the companies themselves (and not by Government or from abroad). Further details on the BERD survey can be found on www.statistics.gov.uk/ downloads/theme—commerce/MA14–2000.pdf.
	
		Own-funded BERD as a proportion of GDP 1998–99 -- Percentage
		
			  1998 1999 
		
		
			 Region   
			 England 0.92 0.97 
			 North-west 1.05 1.13 
			 Cheshire 2.34 (1)— 
			 Cumbria 0.79 (1)— 
			 Greater Manchester 0.40 (1)— 
			 Lancashire 0.97 (1)— 
			 Merseyside 1.31 (1)— 
			 North-east 0.18 0.52 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0.31 0.30 
			 East Midlands 0.87 0.98 
			 West Midlands 0.90 0.89 
			 East 2.43 2.22 
			 London 0.32 0.42 
			 South-east 1.03 1.11 
			 South-west 0.89 0.85 
			 Wales 0.29 0.48 
			 Scotland 0.27 0.28 
			 Northern Ireland 0.33 0.43 
			 UK 0.83 0.88 
		
	
	(1) Not available
	Source:
	National Statistics

Asbestos

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent estimate her Department has made of the cost of removing white asbestos from commercial and domestic buildings in the UK.

Brian Wilson: We do not have data on white asbestos contained in buildings and therefore do not have data on the cost of its removal.

Energy Memorandum of Understanding (US)

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action has been taken as a result of her Department's Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Department of Energy in relation to new and renewable energy technologies.

Brian Wilson: The Memorandum of Understanding between the DTI and the US Department of Energy (US DoE) came into force in November 2000. It aims to encourage collaboration in energy research and development. Some activities have already begun, eg on cleaner coal technologies. In the field of renewable energy, we await the response from the US DoE to a recent DTI proposal for a joint workshop on biomass to be held in UK later this year. This workshop would be supported by a series of site visits to show US experts what we are doing in the UK.
	My officials are also in discussion with US DoE on the possibilities of a workshop on distributed generation. Such a workshop would bring together experts from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss issues critical to the market penetration of renewable energy, with a view to possibly developing collaborative research and development projects.

Local Shops

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to promote the economic viability of local shops in the vicinity of supermarkets.

Nigel Griffiths: I fully recognise the economic and social role that local retailing plays. Access to a local shop is an important service, and one which can help in the regeneration of our high streets, and in the rejuvenation of urban and rural communities.
	Our goal is the sustainability of a vibrant and diverse retail sector which can serve the needs of all social groups. It is not, however, our role artificially to keep businesses afloat through subsidies or to interfere in the commercial decisions of supermarkets operating in accordance with local planning regulations, but to help local shops become more sustainable through innovation, the adoption of new technologies and best practice.
	The DTI is holding a seminar on 15 February as part of its work on supporting small retailers. The seminar's objective is to encourage local organisations in England to help sustain retail businesses through promoting good practice initiatives, encouraging long term sharing of best practice among participants and promoting awareness of new projects. A signposting guide containing information and advice for small and medium sized retail enterprises in England on the schemes and support available will be launched at the event.
	The Small Business Service is also working with a number of intermediaries such as the Rural Shops Alliance, Association of Convenience Stores and the British Retail Consortium on issues to help small shops' competitiveness.

Bristol, East

Jean Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Bristol, East constituency, the effects on Bristol of her Department's policies and actions (a) from 5 May 1994 to 2 May 1997, (b) from 2 May 1997 to 7 May 1998, and (c) since 7 May 1998.

Alan Johnson: The South West of England Regional Development Agency (SW RDA), is applying a considerable proportion of its resources to help improve the physical, social and environmental conditions of the Bristol, East constituency. The Agency works in partnership with Bristol city council and Barton Hill Community at Heart (New Deal for Communities) to identify, prioritise and manage its activities. The first year of operation was 1999–2000. Since then the agency, through either its own or inherited projects, has invested some £22.7 million in nine projects, which range from small community development buildings, through environmental improvement schemes, to Temple Quay—a major inner-city mixed-use development scheme. Seven additional future projects are at feasibility stage which are likely to attract agency investment of c. £10 million.
	The nine projects are:
	Sofa 2000: £284,000
	Bristol Foyer: £505,000
	110–116 Cheltenham Road: £446,000
	Temple Quay Core: £21,000,000
	Black Development Agency: £101,000
	St. Agnes Parl Lodge: £101,000
	Kuumba project: £101,500
	NCN Route 3, Avon Valley: £127,000
	Dings Park: £25,000.
	Business Link West and the Small Business Service continue to support business start up and development of existing businesses. The national Phoenix Fund, designed to encourage entrepreneurship in disadvantaged areas and launched in 1999, has made awards to two schemes in Bristol, East: the Bristol Area Community Enterprise Network (BACEN) and Bristol East Side Traders.
	Five wards in Bristol (Ashley, Easton, Lawrence Hill, Windmill Hill and Filwood) will benefit from the South West of England Objective 2 programme, launched on 13 March 2001, with total European funding of £118 million. The approved projects to date include £1.9 million European funding for Bristol Means Business, led by Business Link West.
	In November 2000 Brunel Training Group Ltd. based in St. George, participated in a Trade Partners UK sponsored Trade Mission to the Caribbean, organised by Business Link West and Bristol Chamber of Commerce. Prior to that visit the company commissioned a Tailored Market Information Report from the British High Commission in Barbados. As a direct result of that report and following their visit the company has started to train managers and customer care workers in Barbados. The company has plans to run the course on 11 West Indies islands. Barbados Government Ministers were among the first delegates at the first course.

Energy Consumption (Scotland)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much (a) coal, (b) gas and (c) oil she estimates was consumed in Scotland in the last year for which figures area available, broken down by local authority or by the nearest appropriate division.

Brian Wilson: Oil consumption in Scotland in 2000 (as measured by deliveries of products for energy and non-energy uses to final consumers) was 6.8 million tonnes.
	Sales of gas to customers in Scotland receiving gas via the national transmission system amounted to 45,638 GWh in 2000.
	Data for oil and gas consumption are not available at a lower geographical level of disaggregation. 2000 is the latest year for which figures are available.
	Coal consumption data for Scotland alone are not readily available as consumption data are based on disposals from collieries and from coal imports, neither of which are separated by country of destination.

Corus (Redundancies)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the aid package that was announced in May 2001 to provide support to communities affected by Corus redundancies has been spent.

Brian Wilson: The majority of the £48 million package of regeneration measures for areas in England affected by the closures announced by Corus in May 2001 consisted of major infrastructure projects funded by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. Projects of this kind are necessarily slow moving, and little money is spent in the early stages. Progress on the projects is as follows:
	Durham University Stockton Campus (budget £19.4 million)—discussions are continuing with Environment Agency and Highways Agency on the impact of the development. Site reclamation work will commence once this is concluded. No significant expenditure to date.
	Phase 2 of the Middlehaven scheme—One NorthEast is planning to spend some £16 million on Phase 2 which includes a contribution to a new junction on the A66 to access the site. Design work on the junction has been started and it should be built by March 2003. Development of the Phase 2 site, which will involve the private sector, is planned to start in the spring.
	New Tees crossing feasibility study (budget £250,000)—£118,520 committed to be spent in financial year 2001–02, the remainder in early 2002–03.
	Teesside Light Rapid Transit system feasibility study (budget £250,000)—£93,525 committed to be spent in financial year 2001–02, the remainder in early 2002–03.
	A66 Longnewton Junction improvements (budget £4.7 million)—the project is included in the Highways Agency budget and work programme. The agency expects to have identified a detailed work programme in the next two months.
	Broadband communications in Teesside and North Lincolnshire (budget £500,000 in each)—proposals from Regional Development Agencies are under consideration by DTI as part of the £30 million fund for the roll-out of broadband communications across the UK. An announcement of the work programme is expected shortly.
	Enterprise Grants in Scunthorpe (budget of up to £500,000)—expenditure is dependent on applications from companies wishing to expand. No expenditure has yet been made.
	The remainder of the package announced on 3 May consisted of an extension of the Job Transition Service to the areas affected by the closures, and is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Expenditure on the regeneration package for Wales also announced on that day is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Casim Project

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will ensure that the procedure and process of peer review of the science case of the 4 GLS part of the Casim project are fair and transparent.

Patricia Hewitt: The Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, on behalf of all the research councils, is handling the scientific peer review of the 4 GLS science case. To ensure that the process is fair the review is being undertaken by a panel of independent scientists nominated by the research councils. The proposal is being considered against a set of standard, agreed criteria. The reviewers' recommendations will be passed on to the Director General of the research councils, the meeting of the chief executives of the research councils and the scientists involved in the project.

Higher Education Services (GATS)

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what consultations her Department has had with universities and colleges of higher education on the inclusion of higher education services in the United Kingdom as part of the forthcoming World Trade Organisation negotiations on the general agreement on trade in services; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans her Department has to include higher education services in the United Kingdom as part of the forthcoming World Trade Organisation negotiations on the general agreement on trade in services.

Patricia Hewitt: My officials and officials from the Department for Education and Skills are consulting Universities UK. In addition the DfES is seeking the views of the devolved Administrations and I understand the Scottish Executive are consulting separately with Universities Scotland.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people are employed in her Department on a job share contract; and what percentage of vacant positions was advertised on this basis in the last 12 months.

Patricia Hewitt: Currently we are aware of 28 members of staff employed in a total of 14 job shares in the Department.
	Apart from a very small number, where there are particular, fully justifiable business requirements, all vacant positions are advertised as being available on a part-time, job share/split as well as on a full-time basis.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the effect of the Working Time Directive on her Department's employees; how many employees are working in excess of 48 hours per week; what steps she is taking to reduce this number; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The information requested is held at local management level and is not readily available centrally.
	A partnership project between management and unions is currently looking at improving work/life balance in the Department.

Post Office Closures

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices are planned to close in (a) Coventry and (b) the UK.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Post office closures are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. The Government's formal requirement on the Post Office to maintain the rural network and prevent avoidable closure of rural post offices remains in place. In relation to the urban network, detailed discussion continues on the programme to restructure the urban post office network.

Sellafield

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of cracks in the B30 nuclear waste storage facility at Sellafield.

Brian Wilson: Inspectors from HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate inspected the B30 plant in 2001. As a result of this inspection, and a subsequent detailed review by BNFL's own experts, BNFL are taking action to institute a programme of remedial work and to enhanced its contingency plans for this plant.
	B30 is one of the older plants at Sellafield that contain the legacy wastes referred to in the statement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the House on 28 November 2001 on Government proposals to set up a Liabilities Management Agency. These proposals are intended to help to systematically address the UK's historical legacy of radioactive waste, including the decommissioning of such plant as B30. In this particular case HSE is pressing BNFL to establish an early decommissioning programme.

Clean Coal Technology

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding her Department provides for research into clean coal technology.

Brian Wilson: The Department is making available some £13 million over the period 2001–02 to 2003–04 for the research and development of clean coal technology. In addition to this some £11 million has been budgeted for underground coal gasification.

Parliamentary Questions

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the questions tabled for answer by the hon. Member for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr on 4 February 2002.

Patricia Hewitt: My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy answered question No. 33111 on 8 February 2002, Official Report, column 1202W, and I answered question No. 33115 today at column 523–24W.

Mineworker's Compensation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the total of legal fees paid in respect of compensation claims for chronic obstructive and pulmonary disease for former miners who worked in the Leicestershire and south Derbyshire coalfields; what principles underpin the determination of such fees; and if he will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 13 February 2002
	To date, £1.0 million in Leicestershire and £0.3 million in south Derbyshire has been paid in claimants' solicitors costs. Costs and disbursements are paid in line with the handling agreement agreed between the Department and the claimants' solicitors. The costs are fixed in real terms, rising with inflation, and depend on the complexity of the case.

Departmental Contracts

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the 30 largest contracts awarded by her Department from (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999, (c) May 1999 to April 2000, (d) May 2000 to April 2001 and (e) May 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available, indicating in each case the values of the contracts and the companies with which the contracts were placed.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Information from the Department's systems indicate the following:
	
		
			 Contracts £ 
		
		
			 May 2001 to December 2002  
			 Gateway Fuels Ltd. 28,897,176 
			 Consignia (Customer Management) Ltd. 25,179,254 
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 24,943,160 
			 ETSU 22,211,888 
			 Post Office Ltd. 12,013,929 
			 Laser (Teddington II) Ltd. 8,966,759 
			 Freehold Portfolios Victoria Management Ltd. 7,022,500 
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 4,382,400 
			 Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Ltd. 4,141,000 
			 CSL Group Ltd. 3,759,398 
			 Land Securities Properties Ltd. 3,666,852 
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 3,134,273 
			 Jones Lang Lasalle 3,054,321 
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 3,001,240 
			 Deloitte and Touche 3,000,000 
			 AEA Technology Environment 3,000,000 
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 2,760,000 
			 International Computers Ltd. (ICL) 2,500,000 
			 International Computers Ltd. (ICL) 2,500,000 
			 A. Davies and Co. (Shopfitters) Ltd. 2,391,319 
			 First Security (Guards) Ltd. 2,170,065 
			 Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Ltd. 2,100,000 
			 Inside UK Enterprise Ltd. 1,918,592 
			 Palmlace Ltd. 1,792,858 
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 1,575,936 
			 Brightstation 1,539,600 
			 Astrium 1,500,000 
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 1,443,811 
			 Jones Lang Lasalle 1,350,564 
			 Deloitte and Touche 1,327,000 
			   
			 May 2000 to April 2001  
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 26,450,000 
			 AEA Technology PLC 26,450,000 
			 ETSU 26,450,000 
			 Westport Private Equity Ltd. 20,000,000 
			 Syntegra 17,857,426 
			 NPL Management Ltd. 14,288,953 
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 12,870,000 
			 Laser (Teddington II) Ltd. £11,000,000 
			 Legal and General 7,750,000 
			 LGC (Teddington) Ltd. 7,457,600 
			 International Computers Ltd. (ICL) 7,282,859 
			 Freehold Portfolios Victoria Management Ltd. 7,022,500 
			 Legal and General 6,708,333 
			 AEA Technology Plc 6,127,659 
			 Laser (Teddington II) Ltd. 5,659,585 
			 International Computers Ltd. (ICL) 5,276,595 
			 Syntegra 5,262,244 
			 National Federation of Enterprise Agencies 4,582,887 
			 Laser (Teddington II) Ltd. 4,384,067 
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 4,089,000 
			 Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry 3,927,017 
			 AEA Technology Environment 3,800,000 
			 Land Securities Properties Ltd. 3,666,852 
			 Westminster City Council 3,253,995 
			 Arthur Andersen 3,078,652 
			 AEA Technology 3,062,131 
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 2,909,000 
			 Small Business Service (Staffordshire) Ltd. 2,887,985 
			 Hays Information Management 2,770,694 
			 Black Country BS 2,658,893 
			   
			 May 1999 to April 2000  
			 TUV Product Service Ltd. 7,633,000 
			 ICL Central Europe Division 6,960,000 
			 ICL Central Europe Division 6,960,000 
			 National Federation of Enterprise Agencies 6,162,340 
			 ETSU 6,104,000 
			 AEA Technology Plc 6,104,000 
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 5,880,763 
			 Westminster City Council 4,633,040 
			 NPL Management Ltd. 4,534,472 
			 AEA Technology Plc 4,307,152 
			 NPL Management Ltd. 4,092,039 
			 John Laing Construction 4,028,987 
			 LGC (Teddington) Ltd. 4,016,000 
			 NPL Management Ltd. 3,403,454 
			 ETSU 3,395,154 
			 International Computers Ltd. (ICL) 3,361,702 
			 NPL Management Ltd. 3,227,394 
			 Westminster City Council 3,165,682 
			 NPL Management Ltd. 2,739,733 
			 NPL Management Ltd. 2,643,786 
			 First Security (Guards) Ltd. 2,397,308 
			 NPL Management Ltd. (NPL) 1,930,642 
			 Legal and General 1,909,375 
			 Freehold Portfolios Victoria Management Ltd. 1,755,625 
			 International Computers Ltd. (ICL) 1,702,127 
			 NPL Management Ltd. 1,652,558 
			 Legal and General 1,625,000 
			 CSL Group Ltd. 1,557,251 
			 Westminster City Council 1,509,580 
			 Michael Shortland Associates 1,444,579 
		
	
	Information is not held centrally for earlier years and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Overseas Embassies

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in invoicing the number of scientific attachés in overseas embassies.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	The £3 million expansion of the FCO's Science and Technology (S&T) network over the three financial years from April 2001 is being implemented on schedule. New S&T staff have already taken up duties in Berne, Boston, Moscow, New Delhi, Ottawa, San Francisco, Shanghai, Taipei, Tel Aviv and The Hague. A further 22 new or upgraded slots will be filled, as planned, by April 2003. This will reinforce the network in key technology centres and more than double its geographical coverage. The expansion and management of the network are being co-ordinated by the FCO's Science and Technology Unit, established in April 2001.

E-Government

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration she has given to making e-Government accessible for disabled people; and what actions have been taken as a result.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	Since December 1999 with the publication of the Guidelines for UK Government websites, Government web managers have been advised on how to make websites accessible to people with disabilities or impairments. On 1 February 2001 the then e-Government Minister the Minister for Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney), announced that all central Government websites should conform to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) recommendations. The recently revised Guidelines for UK Government Websites support WAI recommendations and will give detailed guidance on how to conform to these internationally recognised recommendations.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Equal Pay

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Minister what steps she is taking to promote best practice in industry on equal pay.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government have taken a number of steps already. As well as a questionnaire procedure for use in equal pay cases and other provisions in the Employment Bill, the Fair Pay Champions and the Castle Awards, created by my predecessor, are helping to spread good practice on equal pay. We are also taking forward recommendations from the Kingsmill report aimed at further reducing the pay gap. I have written to my Cabinet colleagues' union and will soon be writing to FTSE 100 companies, to gather examples of their good working practices, so that we can help spread these more widely.

Sex Discrimination Act

Huw Edwards: To ask the Minister if she will propose legislation to make the Church of England and Church in Wales subject to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

Patricia Hewitt: There are no plans to review the relevant section of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, relating to organised religions generally.

Unmarried Mothers

Michael Connarty: To ask the Minister what assessment she has made of the impact of the enactment of the Relationships (Civil Registration) Bill on unmarried mothers in long term partnerships.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government are taking forward a cross-departmental exercise to examine all the issues relevant to civil partnerships in detail. It would be premature for the Government to commit themselves to making any changes in these areas before undertaking a comprehensive analysis of all the implications.

Flexible Working Practices

Betty Williams: To ask the Minister what steps she is taking to encourage flexibility at work for women.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government's Employment Bill will give mothers, and fathers, of young children a right to request to work flexibly and set out the procedure that employers will have to follow to ensure applications are considered seriously. This new right will apply from April 2003.
	The Government's work-life balance campaign encourages all employers to introduce working practices, particularly flexible working arrangements, to enable mothers, and other employees, to balance better their work with other responsibilities. The fourth round of the Work-Life Challenge Fund, which provides consultancy support to employers looking to adopt such policies, is currently under way and employers are invited to submit applications by the closing date of 8 March.

Women in Public Life

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Minister what consultations she has had on the departmental action plans for public appointments of women.

Patricia Hewitt: We are determined that women should hold half of all public appointments. The Minister for Women in the Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), has discussed with ministerial colleagues in other Departments efforts towards this, and other diversity targets. The Government's overall action plan, together with individual departmental action plans, will be published later this month.

Women Scientists

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister what steps she is taking to increase the number of women scientists working in the United Kingdom.

Patricia Hewitt: I recently allocated funding to ensure that the Promoting SET for Women Unit will continue to be in existence for another five years to stimulate progress. I have asked Baroness Greenfield to lead a new high-level group to report with recommendations for a stronger strategic approach to increase the participation of women in science and engineering. I have also recently published the report "Maximising Returns to Science and Engineering Careers".

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Departmental Leave Entitlements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what has been the average annual leave entitlement of staff in his Department in each of the last four years.

Alan Whitehead: The annual leave entitlement for all DTLR(C) staff outside of the senior civil service is 30 days, and has been in each of the last four years.
	The annual leave entitlement for all members of the senior civil service within DTLR(C) is currently set by the Cabinet Office at 30 days, and has been for the last four years.

Public Appointments

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the people he has appointed to official bodies and non-departmental public bodies coming under the aegis of his Department in the last three years; and who they were.

Sally Keeble: Information about the numbers and remuneration of ministerial appointments to public bodies, including the names of chairpersons, is included in the annual Cabinet Office publication, "Public Bodies". Copies are available in the Libraries of the House and also published on the Cabinet Office's website at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango. The next edition of "Public Bodies", which will include information on appointments as at 31 March 2001, will be published shortly.
	A list showing people appointed by Ministers in the last three years has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Public Bodies (Chairmen)

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the appointments made by his Department since 1 May 1997 of chairmen of (a) non-departmental public bodies, (b) commissions, (c) inquiries, (d) agencies and (e) task forces; and if he will list their (i) term of office, (ii) salary and (iii) known political affiliation (A) past and (B) present.

Sally Keeble: Ministers in my Department have appointed or reappointed chairs since 1 May 1997 as follows:
	
		
			  Name (i) Term of office (ii) Salary (£) 
		
		
			 (a) Non-departmental public body
			 Audit Commission Dame Helena Shovelton(2) 17 December 1998 to 30 November 2001 34,880 
			 Castle Vale Housing Action Trust Richard Temple Cox (reappointed) 30 June 1999 to 29 June 2002 32,680 
			 Urban Regeneration Agency Lord Walker (reappointed) 10 December 1997 to 30 September 1998 0 
			 Commission for the New Towns Dr. John Bradfield (reappointed) 1 April 1998 to 30 September 1998 37,223 
			 English Partnerships Sir Alan Cockshaw(3) 1 October 1998 to 30 September 2001 50,000 
			 Housing Corporation Baroness Brenda Dean 6 November 1997 to 31 March 2001 43,131 
			  (reappointed) 1 April 2001 to 30 September 2003  
			 Health and Safety Commission Bill Callaghan 1 October 1999 to 30 September 2004 93,021 
			 Liverpool Housing Action Trust Paula Ridley (reappointed) 8 February 1999 to 31 March 2004 32,680 
			 Stonebridge Housing Action Trust Tony Wade (reappointed) 27 July 1997 to 31 October 1997 28,765 
			  Ivan Weekes 1 November 1997 to 31 October 2000 (resigned 31 March 2000) 30,828 
			  Caroline Pickering 7 July 2000 to 16 July 2003 32,680 
			 Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust Sheila Drew Smith 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2004 32,680 
			 Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust John Chumrow (reappointed) 10 December 1997 to 31 December 2001 32,680 
			 Standards Board for England (body created in 2001) Tony Holland 7 February 2001 to 6 February 2004 50,000 
			 Strategic Rail Authority Sir Alastair Morton(4) 15 January 2001 to 31 March 2002 (resigned 30 November 2001) 137,917 
			  Richard Bowker 1 December 2001 to 30 November 2006 250,000 
			 Civil Aviation Authority Sir Malcolm Field (reappointed) 1 June 1999 to 31 May 2002 (resigned 16 September 2001) 79,149 
			  Sir Roy McNulty 17 September 2001 to 31 August 2004 90,640 
			 Advisory Panel on Standards in the Planning Inspectorate Michael FitzGerald (reappointed) 2 August 1998 to 1 December 2000 0 
			  Corinne Swain 1 February 2001 to 31 January 2004 0 
			 Building Regulations Advisory Committee Jack Anderson (reappointed) 1 January 1998 to 31 December 1999 0 
			  Pat O'Sullivan 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2001 0 
			  Michael Finn 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004 0 
			 Commission for Integrated Transport (body created in 1999) David Begg 30 March 1999 to 29 March 2002 26,497 
			 Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee Jane Wilmot 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2001 0 
			  (reappointed) 1 January 2002 to 30 June 2003 0 
			 Local Government Commission Malcolm Grant (reappointed) 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2002 21,400 
			 Property Advisory Group Robin Broadhurst 1 July 1998 to 30 June 2003 0 
			 Rent Assessment Panel Eastern Bruce Edgington 1 October 1998 to 30 September 2002 31,406 
			 Rent Assessment Panel London Susan Lloyd (reappointed) 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2002 (resigned 19 July 2000) 56,670 
			  Siobahn McGrath (reappointed) 1 December 2000 to 31 January 2003 57,201 
			 Rent Assessment Panel Midland John Bettinson (reappointed) 1 January 2000 to 14 October 2002 31,406 
			 Rent Assessment Panel Northern Martin Davey (reappointed) 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2004 47,110 
			 Rent Assessment Panel Southern Robert Long (reappointed) 1 October 1997 to 30 September 2002 47,110 
			 Traffic Area Eastern Geoffrey Simms 1 June 1998 to 2 August 2006(5) 68,000 
			 Traffic Area North Eastern Tom Macartney 28 February 2000 to 30 June 2012(5) 68,000 
			 Traffic Area North Western Beverley Bell 10 April 2000 to 7 December 2024(5) 68,000 
			 Traffic Area South Eastern and Metropolitan Chris Heaps 4 January 2000 to 15 November 2007(5) 69,100 
			 Traffic Area West Midland and Welsh David Dixon 1 May 1998 to 3 April 2007(5) 68,000 
			 Traffic Area Western Philip Brown 9 May 2000 to 16 April 2018(5) 68,000 
			 
			 (b) Commission
			 Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission John Henes 4 January 2000 to 31 December 2002 Daily fee based on standard senior civil service rates 
			 Commission for Local Administration Anthony Redmond 12 November 2001 to (6) 132,603 
			 
			 (c) Public inquiries
			 Thames Safety Inquiry Right Hon. Lord Justice Clarke Appointed 09/09, report published January 2000 No salary from the inquiry 
			 Marchioness/Bowbelle Formal Investigation and Public Inquiry into the Identification of Victims following Major Transport Accidents Right Hon. Lord Justice Clarke Appointed February 2000, final reports published March 2001 No salary from the Formal Investigation 
			 Reopened Formal Investigation into the loss of the MV Derbyshire Hon. Mr. Justice Colman Appointed April 2000, report published November 2000 No salary from the Reopened Formal Investigation 
			 Reopened Formal Investigation into the loss of the FV Gaul Mr. Justice Steel Appointed May 2000, currently adjourned. Likely to reopen late February/early March No salary from the Reopened Formal Investigation 
		
	
	(2) A new chair is currently being appointed to the Audit Commission. The deputy chair has been acting chair since Dame Helena stood down last November.
	(3) In May 1999, during Sir Alan Cockshaw's chairmanship, the Urban Regeneration Agency and Commission for the New Towns came together as a single operating entity with the name English Partnerships. A new chair is currently being appointed, the deputy chair has been acting chair since Sir Alan stood down.
	(4) Sir Alastair was appointed chair of British Railways Board—one of Strategic Rail Authority's predecessor bodies on 1 April 1999.
	(5) The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 provides for appointment of Traffic Commissioners until their compulsory retirement at age 65.
	(6) This post runs concurrently with the tenure of Mr. Redmond's appointment as a Commissioner for Local Administration. Commissioners may be relieved of office at their own request or may be removed from office on the grounds of incapacity or misbehaviour and shall vacate office on completing the year of service in which they attain the age of 65.
	(d) This Department does not designate a chair to head its agencies.
	(e) Information on the number, remit and membership of task forces, ad hoc advisory groups and reviews has been published by the Cabinet Office on a regular basis. The first report was published on 11 January 2000 and gives information for the period between 1 May 1997 to 31 October 1999. A second report was published on 27 July 2000, and covered the period 1 November 1999 to 30 April 2000. A third report was published on 13 December 2000 covering the period 1 May 2000 to 31 October 2000. The most recent report, "Task Forces, Ad Hoc Advisory Groups and Reviews," issued in October 2001, covers the period of the financial year 2000–01. Copies of these reports have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	(iii) Information on chairs political affiliation is not collected.

Departmental Events

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by his Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in each of the last four years, giving the title, purpose, date and cost of each.

Alan Whitehead: The information is not available in the form requested.

Telecommunications

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the costs of telecommunications services within public sector agencies in the south west region were in the last five years broken down by county.

Alan Whitehead: The information requested is not held by my Department.

Ship Safety Standards

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps the Government plan to take to enforce and improve safety and working conditions onboard ships using British port and waters.

David Jamieson: Ships using British ports and waters are subject to a rigorous regime of inspection to check that they comply with minimum international safety standards and relevant working conditions. This is an on-going process.
	Ships that are found on inspection to fall short of international safety standards are detained until the defects leading to detention are put right. Ships failing to comply with the terms of release are refused access to British and European ports until the safety standards are met.
	The details of ships detained by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are published on national and European websites and the ships are targeted for further inspection. Significant breaches of regulations are investigated and followed up by prosecution where appropriate. Details of prosecutions are also published.

Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in relation to the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh, what the profits were in the last five years for which figures are available; what the estimated profit this year is; what the current surplus or deficit was (a) five and (b) three years ago and what it is today; how much has been invested in the college in each of the last five years, including this year's estimate; what recent orders the college has won and how many residential students weeks have resulted; and how many student weeks were provided in the each of the last five years, including an estimate for this year.

Alan Whitehead: Information on profits, surpluses, deficits and investment is set out in the annual reports and accounts of the Fire Service College which are presented to Parliament and published. The college estimates that investment in 2000–02 will total £4 million and profits will be between £2 million and £2.5 million.
	The college reports that it has recently won orders in respect of National Police Training totalling 14,500 student weeks over an 18 month period in 2001–03, firefighter recruit training totalling 780 student weeks and a number of foreign contracts totalling 1,260 weeks.
	Estimates of student weeks in each of the last five years are set out in the table.
	
		
			  Weeks 
		
		
			 1996–97 15,192 
			 1997–98 15,008 
			 1998–99 15,283 
			 1999–2000 14,822 
			 2000–01 14,087 
		
	
	The estimate of student weeks for 2001–02 is: 17,435.

Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in respect of the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh, how much foreign contracts were worth in each of the last five years, including an estimate for this year; what consultations and working parties are in progress on the framework document on the future of the college and when they are due to report; what the mechanism is for revising the framework document; when last year's audited accounts are due to be presented to Parliament; and who will write the summary of the annual report.

Alan Whitehead: Information provided by the Fire Service College for foreign contracts is set out in the table. The information is drawn from the college's course booking system. The figure for 2001–02 is an estimate.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1996–97 1,108 
			 1997–98 927 
			 1998–99 736 
			 1999–2000 885 
			 2000–01 1,149 
			 2001–02 1,870 
		
	
	Work on the future training requirements of the fire service in England and Wales, and the role of the college in delivering those requirements, are being taken forward in consultation with the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council. A report will go to that council in the summer.
	A revision of the Framework Document is being taken forward separately through the Fire Service College's Advisory Board. A new document will be submitted to me in due course.
	The annual report and accounts for 2000–01 were presented to Parliament in July 2001. The annual report and accounts for 2001–02 are expected to be presented in July this year. The foreword to the annual report will be written by the chief executive in charge of the college at the time.

Private Medical Insurance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many employees in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies have had private medical insurance provided for them in each year since 1997–98; what the total cost is; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 6 February 2002
	Paragraph 7.1.7 of the Civil Service Management Code prohibits departments and agencies from providing staff with private medical insurance.
	NDPBs are not bound by the conditions in the Management Code—remuneration for staff in NDPBs is a matter for the sponsoring department and the individual NDPB.

Planning

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with (a) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (b) Sport England, and (c) the appropriate devolved institutions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the revised draft of PPG17.

Sally Keeble: I will consult other Government Departments before the final version of PPG17 is issued. I have met Sport England regarding PPG17, and my officials will be consulting further with Sport England in drafting the final version. The final guidance, like the draft that preceded it, will be for England only.

Standard Spending Assessment (Elderly Care)

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how the SSA for elderly clients is calculated in each area; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: There are two formulae for elderly social services—one for residential care and one for domiciliary care. The starting point for both formulae is the number of elderly people in each area. In the case of residential care it is the number of people in households; for domiciliary care it is the total resident population (which includes people in institutions as well as in households). In both formulae the number of people over 85 are given most weight, followed by those aged 75–84, with those aged 65–74 given least weight.
	In addition to age, the formulae include deprivation and other indicators associated with the likelihood of being in need of care. These indicators are shown in the table:
	
		
			 Elderly residential SSA  Elderly domiciliary SSA 
		
		
			 Elderly people on income support Elderly people on attendance allowance or disability living allowance Pensioners in rented accommodation Elderly people with a limiting long-term illness Pensioners not in a couple and not a head of household Pensioners living alone Pensioners in rented accommodation Pensioners living alone Elderly people on income support Elderly people with a limiting long-term illness 
		
	
	The domiciliary formula also includes a measure of sparsity, and both formulae include an adjustment for ability to raise income from charges. Finally, an area cost adjustment is applied.Full details of the formulae are available in "The Local Government Finance Report (England) 2002/2003" which is available in the House of Commons Library. The social services formulae are currently under review together with the other grant distribution formulae. A new grant distribution system will be introduced in 2003–04.

Green Belt

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce new legislation giving local authorities powers for the immediate removal of those illegally in occupation of green belt land; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 8 February 2002
	Local authorities already have at their disposal a range of planning enforcement powers if they consider that an unacceptable breach of planning control has occurred. These powers include the ability to seek a planning injunction in the High Court or county court, to restrain any actual or expected breach of planning control. The exercise of enforcement powers is at the local authority's discretion. The powers apply irrespective of whether the land benefits from any special designation such as green belt.
	Entering on to land without the owner's consent constitutes trespass. The owner of the land may bring a civil action for trespass before the courts and seek recovery of the land. Clearly where a local authority owns the land concerned, it is open to that authority to pursue recovery through this route. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 provides a further route through which local authorities (and the police) can seek eviction.

Departmental Policies (Bristol, East)

Jean Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Bristol, East constituency, the effects on Bristol of his Department's policies and actions (a) from 5 May 1994 to 2 May 1997, (b) from 2 May 1997 to 7 May 1998, and (c) since 7 May 1998.

Alan Whitehead: The principal kinds of funding that this Department has provided to Bristol city council for the period 1994–2002 are shown in the table. These include grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.
	It is not possible to determine how much of this money has been spent on Bristol, East. It is for the local authority to decide where within its boundary these resources are applied.
	
		£ million 
		
			 Nature of funding 5 May 94–2 May 97 2 May 97–7 May 98  7 May 98–11 Feb 02  
		
		
			 Revenue Support Grant(7) 166.581 121.880 506.021 
			 Income form National Domestic Rates(8) 122.235 90.650 426.346 
			 Housing Investment Programme 58.280 15.962 50.368 
			 Housing Revenue Account Subsidy n/a n/a 16.629 
			 Capital Receipts Initiative(9) n/a 1.714 11.567 
			 Cash Incentive Scheme(10) 0.200 n/a n/a 
			 Loan Charges Defective Housing(11) 4.493 1.498 5.990 
			 SRB Funding(12) 2.446 3.892 24.150 
			 Local Transport Plan Settlement(13) 3.079 4.574 21.287 
			 New Deal for Communities(14) n/a n/a 3.617 
			 Objective 2 Funding(15) n/a n/a 8.717 
			 Urban 1 Funding(16) n/a n/a 2.101 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Funding(17) n/a n/a 0.850 
			 Community Empowerment Fund(18) n/a n/a 0.062 
			 Community Chest(19) n/a n/a 0.100 
			 Workplace and Travel Plan Co-ordinators(20) n/a n/a 0.030 
			 Estate Action(21) 6.990 n/a n/a 
		
	
	(7) From 1996–97 Bristol became a unitary authority and took on greater responsibilities.
	(8) See 1.
	(9) The Capital Receipts Initiative started in 1997–98 and ran for three years to 1999–2000 before being swallowed up by the single housing pot.
	(10) Supplementary Credit Approval for the Cash Incentive Scheme ceased in 1998–99. There is no information available prior to 1996–97.
	(11) The figure for 2001–02 is provisional at this stage as it is claimed retrospectively.
	(12) SRB figures are for a variety of projects over the six rounds of SRB funding.
	(13) The figure given is for 1996–97. There is no information available prior to 1995–96 when an Avon Area Package was given £10,856 million. See additional information for East Bristol specific schemes.
	(14) This figure is the total forecast spend at the end of 31 March 2002. Additional information about NDC can be found in the additional information.
	(15) See additional information for projects approved so far that will have an impact on East Bristol.
	(16) Examples of projects funded by Urban in the East Bristol Constituency are in the additional information.
	(17) See additional information.
	(18) See additional information.
	(19) See additional information.
	(20) See additional information.
	(21) This programme continued under the Single Regeneration Budget following 1995.
	Additional Information
	New Deal for Communities
	NDC is a 10-year programme that will bring an additional £50 million of government funding to support regeneration of the Dings, Redfield, Barton Hill and Lawrence Hill areas of Bristol. The programme supports a plan that brings together local people, community and voluntary organisations, public agencies, local authorities and business in an intensive local focus to tackle problems around, drugs, poor educational attainment, and unemployment.
	Transport
	Specific schemes funded in Bristol, East since May 1997 include:
	Improved bus priorities on Bath road, Brislington and Wells road, Knowle and Totterdown and Clarence road, Lawrence hill.
	Bristol Dial-a-Ride Service extended to cover the whole of East Bristol.
	Preparatory work towards the Light Rapid Transit, which runs through Lawrence hill.
	Sandy Park road (Brislington) environmental improvement scheme
	Emlyn road and Robertson road (Eastville) traffic calming
	The increased funding allocation for this year will see the programme include:
	Brislington Home Zone, covering Broomhill road, Wick road, Allison road and First avenue.
	Ridgeway road/Lodge Causeway Road Safety Scheme.
	Whitehall Primary Safer Routes to Schools scheme. Objective 2
	The South West of England Objective 2 programme was launched on 13 March 2001 with total European funding of £118 million. Five wards in Bristol will benefit—Ashley, Easton, Lawrence Hill, Windmill Hill and Filwood. Projects approved so far include:
	Bristol Neighbourhood Action Plan (Bristol City) Council/Bristol Regeneration Partnership)—£6.7 million European funding
	Bristol Means Business (Business Link West)—£1.9 million European funding
	Ashley Vale Action Group Office Block Development— £117 thousand European funding. URBAN 1
	Bristol, East wards have benefited from the E-C URBAN programme, a community initiative worth over £7.6 million in total over 1997–2001. Projects that have operated in Bristol East, include:
	Bristol East Side Traders awarded £491,200 towards a £1 million project to reverse decline in the inner area of Bristol.
	Easton Business Centre awarded £300,000 towards a £741,000 project to provide 19 enterprise workshops on derelict land. Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
	Bristol has been awarded £8 million over three years from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. The fund is an additional, non-ring fenced resource to help local authorities in the most deprived areas focus their main programme spending to deliver better outcomes for their deprived communities. Knowle West, St. Pauls and Southmead have been identified in the city for targeting the fund.
	Community Chest
	This is a small grants scheme for small organisations in NRF authorities. Bristol has been allocated £100,000 in year one.
	Community Empowerment Fund
	Available to NRF authorities as way of capacity building in communities to enable them to play a full and meaningful role in Local Strategic Partnerships.
	Workplace and School Travel Plan Co-ordinators
	Bristol was successful in bidding for additional funding for Workplace and School Travel Plan Co-ordinators. The £30,000 was awarded to the Council, however the amount claimed will be slightly less due to recruitment taking place in June and August respectively.

Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what position he has taken on the proposed directive on the market access to port services; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The proposed directive on market access to port services would introduce a framework for competition in provision of services within ports, covering cargo handling, passenger services and technical-nautical services, including pilotage. The UK fully supports the broad principles of liberalisation and competition in the provision of port services, subject to safety and standards being safeguarded. However, we have a number of concerns about the proposals, and we consider that amendments will be required in order to take account of the diversity and complexity of the ports industry.
	The proposed directive is now under discussion in the Transport Council Working Group. We understand that the commission is planning to issue modified proposals. We shall consult fully with the ports industry, users, trades unions and other interests on them.

Social Housing (London)

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many units of social housing were built in London in each year between 1979 and 2001; and how many bedrooms there were in these units.

Sally Keeble: The data we currently have available for housing completions by registered social landlords and Local authorities are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 1988–89 2,876 
			 1989–90 3,638 
			 1990–91 4,024 
			 1991–92 3,720 
			 1992–93 4,606 
			 1993–94 5,743 
			 1994–95 5,660 
			 1995–96 5,052 
			 1996–97 4,881 
			 1997–98 4,381 
			 1998–99 3,233 
			 1999–2000 2,856 
		
	
	The completions for registered social landlords of particular bedroom numbers are as follows:
	
		
			   1 bedroom 2 bedrooms 3 bedrooms 4 or more bedrooms 
		
		
			 1988–89 870 474 139 5 
			 1989–90 821 743 295 103 
			 1990–91 977 829 350 123 
			 1991–92 1,156 1,378 490 116 
			 1992–93 1,887 1,619 732 199 
			 1993–94 1,581 2,495 1,253 268 
			 1994–95 1,523 2,432 1,195 287 
			 1995–96 1,300 2,324 1,103 280 
			 1996–97 1,156 1,859 1,442 401 
			 1997–98 1,068 1,636 1,202 422 
			 1998–99(22) 14.3 46.1 31.2 8.3 
			 1999–2000(22) 21 44 29.3 5.7 
			 2000–01(22) 19.8 50.3 24.2 5.8 
		
	
	(22) Percentage
	Note:
	For more recent years we only have the proportions of number of rooms.
	Information for the period 1979–88 is not readily available and there is no information currently available on the number of rooms per local authority completion.

Motorcycle VED

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many submissions he has received during the consultation over changes to motorcycle VED; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The consultation on reforming vehicle excise duty for motorcycles launched by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the pre-Budget report closed on Friday 8 February 2002. More than 10,000 responses have been received.

New Rolling Stock

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the rate of delivery of the fleet of new trains to replace those in service, indicating the first date of delivery and the number in service at the end of (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004.

David Jamieson: holding answer 12 February 2002
	London Transport's plans for modernisation of the tube are designed to deliver a comprehensive upgrade of the whole network as quickly and efficiently as possible. London Transport is currently consulting the Mayor and Transport for London on the plans following its announcement on 7 February that it is minded to proceed. I expect London Transport to publish detailed information on the train replacement and refurbishment programme following that consultation.

Electoral Modernisation

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the names of companies contracted to assist the local authorities in conducting the electoral modernisation pilot schemes for the May 2002 local elections.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 12 February 2002
	As a result of a procurement tendering exercise we have chosen the following 11 companies to support local authorities in conducting the electoral modernisation pilot schemes for the May 2002 local elections:
	Accenture
	BT
	DRS
	Electoral Reform Services
	ESS
	KPMG Consulting
	OPT Balloting Technologies
	Oracle Corporation UK
	Powervote Ltd
	PWC Consulting
	Strand Business Systems

Arriva Trains Northern

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he has taken to facilitate an agreement between Arriva Trains Northern and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.

John Spellar: Ministers are in regular contact with the Rail, Maritime and Transport union on a number of transport-related issues.

Industrial Action

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many days have been lost owing to industrial action by staff in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each of the last four years.

Alan Whitehead: No days have been lost through industrial action during 19982001.

Norwich Airport

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the management of Norwich International airport in each of the last five years; and what the nature of the discussions was.

David Jamieson: Over the last five years, neither my Ministers nor I have had discussions with the management of Norwich International airport.
	Since the start of the South-East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) in March 1999 officials from my Department have met Norwich airport management on a number of occasions. Discussions focused on the SERAS study process, possible technical assistance by the airport in the study and the future role of the airport as perceived by the management team.

Norwich Airport

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with (a) Norfolk county council and (b) Norwich city council about the future of Norwich international airport; and what assessment he has made of the future of the airport within the Government's airport strategy.

David Jamieson: Neither my Ministers nor I have had recent discussions about the future of Norwich international airport with either of the organisations.
	As part of the South-East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) there have been discussions at official level with both Norfolk county council and Norwich city council about the future role of the airport.
	An assessment of that role will be presented in the forthcoming public consultation on the study outcomes. This is currently scheduled for spring 2002. Decisions made following the consultation will feed into the Air Transport White Paper which we aim to publish in the second half of the year.

Norwich Airport

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of his relaxation of financial borrowing for the development of certain regional airports.

David Jamieson: The relaxation of borrowing controls has allowed soundly-financed local authority airport companies to make investment plans with much greater confidence and to respond to commercial opportunities as they arise. It has also encouraged them to bring a more commercial approach to their investment decisions. Manchester and Norwich airports have made use of their freedom to borrow money from the banks, while the Newcastle shareholders have been able to restructure the airport company as a public private partnership.

Broadspring Wood, Denham

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if the Highways Agency will revoke the licence of the Uxbridge Gun Club to occupy Broadspring Wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire;
	(2)  if the Highways Agency will bring proceedings against the Uxbridge Gun Club in respect of damage to Broadspring Wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire;
	(3)  if Broadspring Wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire, is ancient woodland; and what environmental assessments have been carried out in respect of the wood;
	(4)  what the terms are of the licence from the Highways Agency under which the Uxbridge Gun Club occupies Broadspring Wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency agreed to the licence of Broadspring Wood to the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club under the following terms:
	The exclusive right of sporting by shooting and of killing and carrying away for his own use all game deer wild fowl and such other wild birds listed in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as it shall for the time being be lawful to shoot kill or take and to shoot clay pigeon. Together with power to enter upon the lands for the purposes aforesaid and for rearing and preserving game and wildfowl.
	To exercise the rights and privileges hereby granted and demised in a sportsmanlike and proper manner and at proper seasons of the year and in such a way not to endanger tenants occupiers or users of the lands or any adjoining neighbouring premises or to cause any nuisance or annoyance to the same.
	Not in the exercise of the said rights and privileges to do or permit to be done any spoil or damage whatsoever to the lands or to the woods banks fences hedges crops or plantation thereon or any property of the Owners.
	To indemnify the Owners against all agricultural and other claims and demands made against them for costs incurred by them in relation to any spoil or damage to property stock crops or any person against claims of any other nature arising out of game damage or the exercise of the rights and privileges herby granted and demised.
	To kill destroy and strictly keep down the ground game pigeons moles and other pests in and upon the lands so as to prevent the number of them increasing or impeding the good management of the lands or injuring the crops trees underwood plantation pasturage hedges and fences thereon.
	To satisfy the Owners that the Licensee during the period of this Agreement is adequately covered by insurance in respect of third party liability for a sum of not less than 5,000,000 and on request to produce for inspection by the Owners the policy and premium receipt.
	To obtain any planning or other permission which may be required.
	Not to shoot towards the M25.
	To remove empty cartridge cases from the land after each shooting day.
	To adhere to the British Sporting Code.
	The Highways Agency have requested their managing agents Smiths Gore urgently to visit the site to investigate any further disturbance to the land since their visit on 13 December 2001. They are requested to report immediately and on receipt a decision will be made on whether the licence held by the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club is to be revoked.
	Throughout the process of negotiating the licence and the sale of Broadspring Wood to the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club the Highways Agency had no indication that the site was designated as ancient woodland. Professional advice was sought in respect of the sale of the land and it was reported the woodland was in poor condition and contaminated. The contamination was alleged to be from the adjacent land that was a former refuse site.
	Together with the recent concerns about the activities of the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club and the suggestion that the site is designated as ancient woodland the Highways Agency will undertake a full review of the case and take any action deemed necessary against the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club.

EU Funding

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those regions in which areas entitled to bid only for Objective 3 structural fund programmes are represented on programme monitoring and regional committees.

Sally Keeble: Programme monitoring committees only operate in Objective 2 areas, so do not include representatives from areas only entitled to bid for Objective 3 funds. Objective 3 is a national programme and operates across England (excluding Objective 1 areas). It is managed by a national committee. Nine regional committees oversee the delivery of the regional Objective 3 programmes. They are: north west, north east, Yorkshire and the Humber, west midlands, east midlands, south west, east of England, south east and London.
	In three regions, north west, west midlands and east of England, the partners have agreed that in the interests of coherence and integration both Objective 2 and 3 programmes should be managed by a single monitoring committee.

EU Funding

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that areas entitled to bid only for Objective 3 structural fund programmes are represented on programme monitoring and regional committees.

Sally Keeble: Most Objective 3 funding is allocated to Government offices who work with partners to deliver the programme in line with regional priorities. Regional committees for Objective 3 oversee the delivery of the programmes.
	The Government have provided guidance to regions on the composition of each regional committee to ensure that they reflect regional interests in terms of sectoral and geographic coverage.

EU Funding

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list, for each region for the years 1993 to 1999 the percentage split of (a) Objective 2 structural fund programmes between European regional development fund and European social fund projects and (b) Objective 3 structural fund programmes between ERDF and ESF projects.

Sally Keeble: The table gives the information requested for the Objective 2 structural funds programmes by region for the 199499 programme round. There are currently no separate figures available for 1993, which formed part of the 198993 programme round; the data for Thanet (SE Region) are not broken down by year because funds were allocated in a single tranche for each of the two programme rounds199496 and 199799.
	Objective 3 structural fund programmes are 100 per cent. ESF since ERDF formed no part of these programmes.
	
		Structural funds allocations for England 199499 -- 000 (current exchange rate)
		
			  Regional programme ERDF structural funds ESF structural funds Total structural funds ERDF and ESF Structural funds ERDF (%) Structural funds ESF (%) 
		
		
			 East Midlands  
			 1994 686 4,309 4,995 13.74 86.26 
			 1995 1,023 3,146 4,169 24.55 75.45 
			 1996 29,366 3,288 32,654 89.93 10.07 
			 1997 16,931 2,075 19,006 89.08 10.92 
			 1998 17,733 7,620 25,354 69.94 30.06 
			 1999 18,033 8,101 26,134 69.00 31.00 
			 Total 83,773 28,539 112,312 74.59 25.41 
			   
			  Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire
			 1994 1,585 18,740 20,325 7.80 92.20 
			 1995 7,407 13,410 20,817 35.58 64.42 
			 1996 136,062 33,000 169,062 80.48 19.52 
			 1997 8 12,880 12,888 0.06 99.94 
			 1998 592 25,025 25,617 2.31 97.69 
			 1999 194,444 35,697 230,141 84.49 15.51 
			 Total 340,098 138,753 478,850 71.02 28.98 
			   
			 West Cumbria  
			 1994 0 310 310 0.00 100.00 
			 1995 673 740 1,413 47.62 52.38 
			 1996 10,772 1,780 12,552 85.82 14.18 
			 1997 1,481 792 2,273 65.17 34.83 
			 1998 10,367 792 11,158 92.91 7.09 
			 1999 4,364 945 5,308 82.20 17.80 
			 Total 27,656 5,358 33,014 83.77 16.23 
			   
			 London  
			 1994 127 2,120 2,247 5.66 94.34 
			 1995 1,385 3,140 4,525 30.60 69.40 
			 1996 32,254 4,770 37,024 87.12 12.88 
			 1997 44 2,984 3,028 1.45 98.55 
			 1998 28,270 7,005 35,275 80.14 19.86 
			 1999 18,876 5,578 24,454 77.19 22.81 
			 Total 80,955 25,597 106,552 75.98 24.02 
			   
			 North East  
			 1994 4,801 9,660 14,461 33.20 66.80 
			 1995 17,555 11,650 29,205 60.11 39.89 
			 1996 114,130 26,740 140,870 81.02 18.98 
			 1997 1,601 7,096 8,698 18.41 81.59 
			 1998 6,270 24,633 30,903 20.29 79.71 
			 1999 172,536 29,855 202,391 85.25 14.75 
			 Total 316,893 109,634 426,527 74.30 25.70 
			   
			 Plymouth  
			 1994 889 780 1,669 53.26 46.74 
			 1995 1,759 1,220 2,979 59.05 40.95 
			 1996 10,593 1,410 12,003 88.25 11.75 
			 1997 5,804 1,391 7,196 80.66 19.34 
			 1998 7,739 1,855 9,594 80.66 19.34 
			 1999 11,606 1,393 12,999 89.29 10.71 
			 Total 38,390 8,049 46,439 82.67 17.33 
			 Thanet (SE)  
			 1994 4,795 1,130 5,925 80.93 19.07 
			 1995 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 
			 1996 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 
			 1997 11,436 2,528 13,964 81.90 18.10 
			 1998 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 
			 1999 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 
			 Total 16,231 3,658 19,889 81.61 18.39 
			   
			 Yorkshire and the Humber  
			 1994 2,233 10,410 12,643 17.66 82.34 
			 1995 13,810 7,430 21,240 65.02 34.98 
			 1996 124,311 16,270 140,581 88.43 11.57 
			 1997 758 4,029 4,787 15.84 84.16 
			 1998 9,735 20,511 30,246 32.19 67.81 
			 1999 180,781 44,081 224,862 80.40 19.60 
			 Total 331,628 102,730 434,358 76.35 23.65 
			   
			 West Midlands  
			 1994 3,507 15,490 18,997 18.46 81.54 
			 1995 12,624 17,440 30,064 41.99 58.01 
			 1996 157,918 27,450 185,368 85.19 14.81 
			 1997 3,596 11,263 14,860 24.20 75.80 
			 1998 89,041 31,670 120,711 73.76 26.24 
			 1999 113,222 30,468 143,689 78.80 21.20 
			 Total 379,908 133,781 513,689 73.96 26.04

Concessionary Travel Schemes

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 838W, how many local authorities have exercised their discretionary powers to provide concessionary travel to children (a) under 16 and (b) 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education.

Sally Keeble: My Department has recently carried out a survey about concessionary travel in England that covers these matters. The returns are being analysed at present and the results will be published in due course.

Air Passenger Rights

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which UK airlines and airports have signed up to the European Airline and Airports Commitments on Air Passenger Rights.

David Jamieson: 10 UK airlines have signed up to the Airline Passenger Service Commitment. They are Air 2000; Airtours International; bmi British Midland; Britannia Airways; British Airways; British European Airways; JMC Airlines; KLM(UK); Monarch Airlines; Virgin Atlantic Airways.
	20 UK airports have signed up to the Airport Passenger Service Commitment. They are Aberdeen; Belfast international; Birmingham international; Bournemouth; Bristol international; Cardiff international; East Midlands; Edinburgh; Exeter International; Glasgow; Humberside; Leeds Bradford; Liverpool; London Gatwick; London Heathrow; London Luton; London Stansted; Manchester; Norwich international; Southampton.
	The launch of the Voluntary Commitments on Passenger Rights is good news for European air travellers. Air passengers have a right to expect the highest standards of customer care from the time at which they arrive at the airport to the point at which they reach their destinations. Responding to these expectations is a key component of a commercially successful aviation industry and the UK signatories have signalled that this is a matter that they treat very seriously.

Railtrack

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what organisation will represent passengers on the board of the not-for-profit company to run the functions of Railtrack; and if he has offered anyone for that position.

John Spellar: My right hon. Friend's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) of 23 October 2001, Official Report, columns 19597W, made it clear that passenger groups could be members of a company limited by guarantee (CLG). It is for the team developing a bid based on the concept of a CLG to make a proposal to the administrator, including proposals for the membership of the proposed company.

Railtrack

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people he has approached to serve on the board of the not-for-profit company to run the functions of Railtrack.

John Spellar: None. It is for the team developing a bid based on the concept of a company limited by guarantee to make a proposal to the administrator, including a proposal for the management of the proposed company.

Railtrack

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if it is his policy that the not-for-profit limited company proposed for Railtrack will be 100 per cent. privately owned; and what option the Government will retain to buy back the company.

John Spellar: A company limited by guarantee (CLG) is a private company without shareholders. A CLG would be accountable to its members. We do not expect that there would be an option to buy back the company.

Strategic Rail Authority

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the budgeted running costs are of the Strategic Rail Authority in 200102.

John Spellar: Within its total budget for 200102 of 1.9 billion, the Strategic Rail Authority was set a running cost limit of 44.332 million.

London Underground

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will list the targets for each of the London underground lines for (a) points failure, (b) signal failure and (c) power train failure by (i) 2007 and (ii) 2012 under the proposed PPP;
	(2)  what new rolling stock will be available on each of the London underground lines by (a) 2007 and (b) 2012 under the proposed PPP.

John Spellar: .

Repossessions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many court repossessions of property there were, broken down by region, in each of the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: I have been asked to reply.
	Statistical information for each region cannot be provided prior to 1990, as the manual figures collated are no longer available. However, national figures for this period are available from 1986 until 1989. Data collated by region from 1990 onwards are set out in the table. This shows possession warrants executed on mortgaged and rented properties in England and Wales from 1990 until 2001.
	
		Possession warrants executed (mortgaged and rented properties), England and Wales, 1990 to 2001
		
			 Region 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 East Anglia(23) 1,590 2,144 1,873 1,515 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 East Midlands 2,441 4,487 3,245 2,842 3,148 3,663 3,668 3,924 5,099 5,363 4,511 3,878 
			 Eastern(24) n/a n/a n/a n/a 4,546 4,375 4,541 3,911 4,393 4,461 4,129 3,986 
			 London 12,659 17,320 21,662 16,052 13,992 14,417 11,851 13,067 18,596 21,071 19,800 21,834 
			 Merseyside(25) n/a n/a n/a n/a 842 816 825 1,087 1,269 1,793 1,719 3,789 
			 North East 1,363 1,913 1,989 1,722 1,654 1,788 1,707 1,970 2,285 3,003 2,353 2,353 
			 North West 3,297 4,642 5,175 5,132 3,933 5,019 5,389 5,883 5,506 6,804 6,318 5,456 
			 South East 9,401 14,606 13,304 10,909 7,636 8,002 6,943 6,076 6,635 6,996 5,519 6,085 
			 South West 3,149 4,478 4,016 3,899 3,335 3,545 3,103 2,939 3,245 3,655 2,549 2,041 
			 Wales 2,207 2,726 2,698 2,302 2,907 2,094 2,036 2,593 3,075 3,090 3,079 3,079 
			 West Midlands 3,170 5,205 4,808 3,907 4,161 4,138 4,293 4,639 5,255 6,755 6,145 7,535 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 2,522 3,618 3,669 3,053 3,068 3,239 3,665 4,333 4,825 5,747 5,448 5,563 
		
	
	(23) East Anglia region was absorbed into the eastern region in 1994
	(24) Pre-1994 the eastern region was a combination of the east Anglia and part-south eastern regions
	(25) Pre-1994 the Merseyside region formed part of the north west region

Fire Services Act

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the Government plans to review section 32 of the Fire Services Act 1947.

Alan Whitehead: Section 32 provides that no member of a police force should be employed as a member of a local authority fire brigade. The Government are working with the fire service to consider the requirements for modernising the service, including the legislative arrangements. The application of section 32 will be included in that work.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested is not available as certification does not distinguish between work related and non-work related stress. No compensatory payments have been made for any stress-related absence.
	The Cabinet Office is aware of its legal responsibilities to reduce stress at work and provides in-house guidance and training to its managers. It also encourages, where possible, flexible working arrangements that allow for both work and home commitments to be accommodated.

Regulatory Impact Assessment

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what information the Government publish on the relative performance of Government Departments with respect to regulatory impact assessment;
	(2)  if the regulatory impact assessment guidelines issued by the Cabinet Office will be made mandatory.

Christopher Leslie: The Government do not publish information on the relative performance of Government Departments with respect to regulatory impact assessments.
	All Government Departments and agencies are required to produce regulatory impact assessments for proposed regulations that could impact on business, charities or the voluntary sector.

Health and Safety (Computers)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many employees in his office who regularly use computers have taken up the provision of a free eye test; and how this service is advertised to (a) current and (b) new staff.

Christopher Leslie: The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, effective January 1993, require employers to provide and pay for, upon request from an employee, an eye and eyesight test. There is a requirement for further tests at regular intervals; the optometrist doing the first test can recommend when the next one should be. In addition, employers must pay the cost of special spectacles required where normal ones cannot be used.
	I can confirm that 127 staff who regularly use computers within the Cabinet Office have taken up the offer of a free eye test between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2001.
	The service is advertised to current staff on the Personnel website. This information is brought to the attention of new staff through the e-induction package which links in to the relevant Personnel website.

Industrial Action

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many days have been lost owing to industrial action by staff in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each of the last four years.

Christopher Leslie: None.

Departmental Website

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost of his Department's website was in real terms in each of the last four years; and how many hits it received in each of those years.

Christopher Leslie: The information is as follows:
	1. Total expenditure on design, hosting and security for the Cabinet Office website (http:// www.cabinet-office.gov.uk) over the past four years was:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 199899 17,000 
			 19992000 10,500 
			 200001 100,170 
			 200102 12,337 
		
	
	These figures exclude VAT and staff costs. The significant increase in 200001 was due to security recovery following a successful hacking incident in July 2000.
	2. In accordance with the Office of the E-envoy's Guidelines for UK Government websites, greater importance is given to the statistical features of page impressions and unique visitors rather than hits (which is recorded in both homepage and entire site amounts), therefore these criteria have also been supplied for the years in question (January to December unless where indicated):
	1998
	No recorded statistics/data
	1999
	(Recorded from April to December)
	Page impressions185,073
	Unique visitors1,276
	Hits for homepage170,358
	Successful hits for entire site187,303
	2000
	(Months of July to September not recorded due to hacking)
	Page impressions1,237,709
	Unique visitors67,745
	Hits for homepage233,037
	Successful hits for entire site1,933,738
	2001
	Page impressions7,172,623
	Unique visitors424,596
	Hits for homepage459,506
	Successful hits for entire site12,588,868.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the statutory instruments issued by his Department in the last 12 months, indicating (a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals.

Christopher Leslie: The Cabinet Office has issued one statutory instrument during the last 12 months:
	SI 2001 No. 1587 The Superannuation (Admission to Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972) Order 2001 the purpose of which was to add to and remove from the list of Other Bodies and Offices covered by the Superannuation Act 1972.
	The cost of implementation to (i) public funds was nil, (ii) businesses nil and (iii) individuals nil.

Entertainment Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list for 199798 and each subsequent financial year the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies in respect of hotel and other similar privately-provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) other persons; if he will list the proportion of this cost incurred in respect of (x) food and (y) alcohol in each case; and if he will list the average cost per hotel room or similar unit of accommodation provided in each case.

Christopher Leslie: Since 1999 this Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing 500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. The 1999 list contained information on all such visits undertaken from 2 May 1997 to 31 April 1999. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	The additional detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Entertainment Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list for 199798 and for each subsequent financial year, including the current year to date, the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non- departmental public bodies on (i) food and (ii) alcohol, indicating how much was spent on guests, and how much in respect of (A) Ministers and (B) staff, broken down to show how much was provided directly by his Department and how much reclaimed.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Refurbishment

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his estimate is of the cost of buildings refurbishment carried out by his Department in each of the last four years.

Christopher Leslie: Information requested covering 199798 to 200001 (inclusive) is as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 199798 935,000 
			 199899 4,139,000 
			 19992000 16,694,000 
			 200001 15,763,000 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures include fees, furniture/office equipment and VAT
	The increase between 199899 and 19992000 is mainly attributable to the commencement of the project to refurbish Admiralty Arch (completed in 200001) and the Ripley and Kirkland buildings (due for completion in 200203). The Ripley and Kirkland project is a major change project involving a complete refurbishment (including the installation of new mechanical, electrical and plumbing services and lifts). This will create modern office space. When the project is completed this will form 22 Whitehall; one of the Department's major buildings.

Refurbishment

Joan Walley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how much has been spent on timber for the refurbishment of the Ripley and Kirkland building;
	(2)  how much certified timber has been used in the refurbishment of the Ripley and Kirkland building; and what proportion of the total timber purchased for this refurbishment this represents;
	(3)  what action was taken by his Department to ensure that timber procured for the refurbishment of the Ripley and Kirkland building was sourced (a) sustainably and (b) legally.

Christopher Leslie: Approximately 460,000 of timber is being used in the refurbishment of 22 Whitehall (the Ripley and Kirkland buildings). With the exception of around 50,000 of timber which has been reclaimed (ie it is recycled) the remainder is all certified.
	The contract used with the main contractor for the refurbishment of 22 Whitehall places a requirement on the contractor to provide timber from certifiable sustainably managed sources upon which certificates are to be made available. Evidence provided by the main contractor indicates that all the timber supplied so far has been derived from sustainable and legal sources, ie the timber has been purchased under certified logging schemes. Secondments

Refurbishment

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the names of staff who have been seconded to his Department from the private sector since May 1997, indicating (a) the names of the organisation from which each has come, (b) their responsibilities and civil service grades within his Department, (c) the organisation responsible for paying their salary and (d) the start and end dates of their secondment.

Christopher Leslie: Secondments are part of the interchange programme, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the civil service and other organisations. Before an interchange can occur all parties must be satisfied that no conflict of interest arises.
	The secondees to the Cabinet Office, in the table, between May 1997 and 1 February 2002, worked in a variety of jobs from Cabinet Office B2 (equivalent to Higher Executive officer) to the senior civil service. They worked in a wide range of areas where we could benefit from their knowledge and expertise from the private sector.
	I am not prepared to identify individual secondees by name or responsibilities for reasons of employee confidentiality. Secondees are employed on the basis that they can contribute valuable expertise and good practice to the civil service, and on the basis that no conflict of interest arises. Where appropriate, their names are published in directories such as the Civil Service Year Book, as are those of permanent staff. But they are not separately identified as being on secondment.
	In all cases agreements are reached with the parent organisation on the salary reimbursed by the Cabinet Office to ensure it fall in the civil service pay range appropriate to the post.
	
		Completed secondments into the Cabinet Office from the private sector from May 1997
		
			 Personal grade Start date Loaned organisation Termination date 
		
		
			 SCS 1997 Alexander Blackford Communications 1999 
			 A 9 November 1998 National Westminster Bank 9 November 1999 
			 SCS-4 1 January 1999 Andersen Consulting 31 December 2000 
			 A 4 January 1999 PricewaterhouseCooper 31 August 2000 
			 SCS-1 4 May 1999 Oracle 30 April 2001 
			 A 10 May 1999 BT 5 May 2000 
			 A 17 May 1999 KPMG 30 June 2001 
			 A June 1999 PricewaterhouseCoopers 2000 
			 A 23 August 1999 Frontier Economics Ltd. 31 December 1999 
			 A 9 September 1999 BT 28 July 2000 
			 A 27 September 1999 Carillion 19 October 2001 
			 A 27 September 1999 KPMG 12 May 2000 
			 A 4 October 1999 Wragg and Co. 24 February 2000 
			 SCS-1 25 October 1999 Unilever 19 October 2001 
			 A 6 December 1999 Andersen Consulting 21 July 2000 
			 A 6 December 1999 Hay Management Consultants 17 May 2000 
			 A 13 December 1999 Microsoft Ltd. 21 July 2000 
			 A 10 January 2000 PricewaterhouseCoopers 10 January 2002  
			 A 7 February 2000 Zurich Financial Services 7 April 200 
			 A 17 April 2000 Hay Management Consultants 28 July 2000 
			 B2 27 March 2000 British Airways 23 March 2001 
			 A 3 July 2000 Energis 31 October 2000 
			 SCS-3 18 September 2000 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 16 March 2001 
			 A 21 November 2000 GlaxoSmithKline 30 June 2001 
		
	
	Source:
	Central Cabinet Office records
	
		Secondees currently in the Cabinet Office from the private sector
		
			 Personal grade  Start date  Loaned organisation 
		
		
			 A 9 November 1999 Marks and Spencer plc 
			 SCS-1 13 March 2000 Sun Microsystems 
			 B2 16 October 2000 BUPA 
			 B2 29 January 2001 Environmental Resources Management Ltd. 
			 A 2 April 2001 Ford Motor Company 
			 A 23 April 2001 KPMG 
			 A 23 April 2001 Worksystems Inc. 
			 SCS-1 4 June 2001 Oxera Consulting Ltd. 
			 A 18 June 2001 Oracle 
			 A 16 July 2001 Attfield James Ltd. 
			 A 25 June 2001 Financial Times 
			 A 1 October 2001 Arthur Andersen 
			 A 1 August 2001 Bates, Wells and Braithwaite 
			 A 3 October 2001 PriceWaterhouseCoopers 
			 A 22 October 2001 Unilever 
			 SCS-1 1 November 2001 ICI 
			 A 19 November 2001 Accenture 
			 A 3 January 2002 KPMG 
			 B2 3 January 2002 KPMG 
		
	
	Source:
	Central Cabinet Office records

Refurbishment

Tom Brake: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff were seconded between (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and his Department in (i) 19992000, (ii) 200001 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Christopher Leslie: During the period 1 April 1999 to 1 February 2002 there were no secondees into or out of the Cabinet Office from: BP, Shell, Enron, Exxon-Mobil, Conoco, Texaco or TotalFinaElf.

Consultancy Services

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of work commissioned by Government Departments has been undertaken by (a) Arthur Andersen, (b) Ernst and Young and (c) PricewaterhouseCoopers in each year since 1978.

Christopher Leslie: Information for all Government Departments is not held centrally. This answer covers the Cabinet Office, including its agency, and the Central Office of Information.
	The table gives the proportions by value of consultancy work commissioned by the Cabinet Office and COI that was undertaken by (a) Arthur Andersen, (b) Ernst and Young and (c) PricewaterhouseCoopers in each financial year from 199798 to date. Figures for earlier financial years are available only at disproportionate cost.
	
		Per cent. 
		
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102(26)  
		
		
			 Arthur Andersen 0 0 0 0.56 2.15 
			 Ernst and Young 1.57 11.53 2.18 0.04 2.17 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 0.35 2.42 2.30 5.67 4.52 
		
	
	(26) 200102 figures for year to end January and subject to audit

Contracts

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many contracts were let by his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to (a) PWC Consulting or PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Ernst and Young, (c) Deloitte Touche, (d) KPMG and (e) Andersen for consultancy services for the financial years (i) 199798, (ii) 199899, (iii) 19992000, (iv) 200001 and (v) 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available, indicating the remuneration in each case.

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the (a) number and (b) value of contracts awarded by his Department to (i) Arthur Andersen, (ii) Deloitte Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iv) KPMG and (v) PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants in each year since 1997.

Christopher Leslie: The remuneration made by Cabinet Office and the Central Office of Information to PWC Consulting or PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst and Young, Deloitte Touche, KPMG and Arthur Andersen for consultancy services in each of the financial years 199798 to 200102 is set out in the table. Information on the number of individual contracts is available only at disproportionate cost.
	
		 
		
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102(27) 
		
		
			 PWC Consulting PricewaterhouseCoopers 19,228 117,653 233,021 562,250 463,533 
			 Ernst and Young 85,553 846,231 221,480 4,406 0 
			 Deloitte Touche 42,593 45,839 0 32,648 0 
			 KPMG 66,997 45,310 33,768 36,368 42,259 
			 Arthur Andersen 0 0 0 55,812 220,313 
		
	
	(27) 200102 figures to the end of January 2002 and subject to audit.

Arthur Andersen

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what contracts his Department has had since 1997 with (a) Arthur Andersen and (b) Accenture for (i) accountancy, (ii) audit and (iii) consultancy work; and what staff have been seconded (A) to his Department from and (B) from his Department to these firms.

Christopher Leslie: Individual Government Departments are responsible for taking decisions on the goods and services they acquire taking into account the Government's policy of seeking value for money for the taxpayer.
	Since 1997 the Cabinet Office, its Agencies and COI have let the following contracts with Arthur Andersen and Accenture.
	
		
			  Accountancy Audit Consultancy 
		
		
			  Arthur Andersen  
			 199798 0 0 0 
			 199899 0 0 0 
			 19992000 0 0 0 
			 200001 0 0 1 
			 200102 0 0 1 
			 Accenture
			 199798 0 0 0 
			 199899 0 0 0 
			 19992000 0 0 0 
			 200001 0 0 0 
			 200102 0 0 0 
		
	
	The number of secondments is as follows:
	
		
			  Secondment to CO Secondment from CO 
		
		
			 Arthur Andersen   
			 199798 0 0 
			 199899 1 0 
			 19992000 1 0 
			 200001 0 0 
			 200102 1 0 
			
			 Accenture   
			 199798 0 0 
			 199899 0 0 
			 19992000 0 0 
			 200001 0 1 
			 200102 1 0

Public Appointments

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  when his Department expects to publish departmental targets for the appointment of women to public bodies for (a) 200104 and (b) 200205;
	(2)  what percentage of those appointed to public bodies are women; and when the next set of figures will be released;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of progress by Departments towards their 1998 to 2001 targets for the appointment of women to public bodies.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given below to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Dr. Stoate).

Public Appointments

Howard Stoate: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Government will publish the next edition of Public Bodies and the annual publication setting out the targets for increasing diversity in public appointments; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: I am pleased to report that the latest edition of Public Bodies, Public Bodies 2001, is published today. This publication provides detailed information on all public corporations, nationalised industries, health bodies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), including tribunals and boards of visitors to penal establishments, in existence at 31 March 2001. Specifically, the report sets out for each body:
	Its location and terms of reference;
	The name, gender and remuneration of the chair and deputy chair and the number of members of the board and their gender (where these positions exist);
	The number of staff employed;
	The audit arrangements and the financial year in which the body was last reviewed by Government; and
	The body's total expenditure and the amounts funded by Government or by other means.
	Public bodies play an important role in the processes of national government and the women and men who serve on them, and the staff of these bodies, make a very valuable and positive contribution to the continuous improvement of public services and also to better policy making.
	The Government remain committed to minimising the number of NDPBs. As Public Bodies 2001 shows that, at 31 March 2001, there were 1,025 public bodies, fewer than at any time since Public Bodies was first published in 1979.
	In parallel with the continuing commitment to reduce the number of NDPBs, the Government also remain committed to ensuring that new NDPBs and other bodies are set up only where it can be demonstrated that this is the most cost-effective and appropriate means of carrying out the function concerned.
	Finally, this Government also remain firmly committed to making appointments on merit to the boards of public bodies and to equality of opportunity with the aim of ensuring that the people who serve on public bodies are broadly representative of the diversity of the United Kingdom. To achieve this, the opportunity to play a part in public life by serving on a public body must be open to all, whether or not they are disabled and irrespective of their age, ethnicity or gender as well as their geographical or social background. Women and men should hold an equal share of public appointments and a greater proportion of appointments should be held by people from ethnic minority backgrounds and disabled people.
	We have made some progress towards these goals. At 31 March 2001 women held 34 per cent. of appointments to the bodies detailed in Public Bodies 2001 and 4.8 per cent. were held by people from ethnic minority backgrounds; in both cases this is a small increase on the position at 31 March 2000. Similar information on the proportion of appointments held by disabled people is not yet available but it will be given in the next edition of Public Bodies. There has been some continuing progress but there is more to do. I am therefore also pleased to announce that we have today published Public Bodies: Opening Up Public Appointments 20022005, which sets out for each Department its plans for increasing the diversity of the boards of the public bodies for which it is responsible. These targets, and the activities aimed at ensuring that they are met and that our overall goals are achieved.
	Copies of Public Bodies 2001 and Public Bodies: Opening up Appointments: 20022005 have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Both publications will be accessible via the Cabinet Office's internet website.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Detainees

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he consented to British nationals detained in Afghanistan being transferred to Guantanamo Bay prior to the determination of their status.

Ben Bradshaw: We have had many discussions with the US authorities about the detention of British nationals. The US authorities informed us in advance that three British detainees would be transferred from Afghanistan to Guantanamo Bay on 11 January. They also informed us in advance of the transfer of a further two British detainees on 11 February. As the detaining power, it is for the US authorities to decide on the handling and status of the detainees.

Plain English Campaign

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact his Department has had in the last year with the Plain English Campaign, and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Plain English Campaign have written to me in connection with my efforts to explain the Government's policy on Europe to the British public. I am aware of their excellent work.

Ispat International

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from employees or directors of Ispat International between May 1997 and December 2001; and if he will list them by date and subject.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 4 February 2002
	I receive representations from many groups eager to press their case.

Ispat International

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list meetings between (a) departmental Ministers and (b) senior departmental officials and representatives of Ispat International between May 1997 and December 2001, indicating the date of each meeting.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 4 February 2002
	Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists. Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis, and in order to preserve confidentiality, it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

DEFENCE

Overseas Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each of the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team in each of the last four years, specifying the purpose and cost of each trip.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 707W.

Bloody Sunday Inquiry

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department is of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 January 2002, Official Report, columns 23W, to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Blunt).

Former Service Personnel

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what systems are in place to monitor the number of former members of the armed services who become homeless within 18 months of leaving the armed forces.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not itself monitor homelessness among those who have left the services but we are able to keep track of the number of rough sleepers with an ex-service background through work with the Rough Sleepers Unit (RSU). The Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) report published in 1998 identified that between one quarter and one fifth of rough sleepers had been in the armed forces at some stage, predominantly some years before as national service men. The MOD has since been working in partnership with the RSU and the charitable sector to reduce some of the most acute cases of homelessness, those sleeping rough on the streets.
	The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions have confirmed that interim analysis of rough sleeping data collected in November 2001 shows that the percentage of rough sleepers with an armed forces background has decreased markedly since the 1998 SEU report. This is clearly good news and provides strong evidence of the success that can be achieved by Government working in partnership with the voluntary sector.
	Improvements that have been delivered by this partnership include the establishment of the Single Person Accommodation Service for Ex Service (SPACES) project at Catterick Garrison in 1999 which has already provided a range of housing and other support services to over 550 vulnerable people leaving the services. This exceeds the first target of 400.
	We recognise there is further work to be done in this area and, as part of the Veterans' Initiative we are looking at improvements to resettlement arrangements for the most vulnerable service leavers. This will include addressing the risk of homelessness.

HMS Vengeance

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many missiles were collected by HMS Vengeance in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to defence, security and international relations.

Golden Jubilee Medal

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will arrange for the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal to be awarded to those members of the Retired Officers' Corps who are serving with HM forces.

Lewis Moonie: The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal will be awarded to those serving members of the armed forces, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the emergency services who meet the stipulated eligibility criteria. Members of the armed forces who are recruited to the retired officer grades in the Ministry of Defence at the conclusion of their service become civil servants. They are no longer serving in the armed forces and nor are they members of the emergency services. As is the case for civil servants generally, they are not eligible to receive the medal.

Contracts

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the (a) number and (b) value of contracts awarded by his Department to (i) Arthur Andersen, (ii) Deloitte Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iv) KPMG and (v) PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants in each year since 1997.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has awarded the following numbers of contracts to the above-named companies since 1997.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 
		
		
			 Arthur Anderson 1 0 0 1 2 
			 Deloitte Touche 2 0 1 1 1 
			 Ernst and Young 3 2 2 1 0 
			 KPMG 6 6 1 13 11 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 3 7 6 5 5 
		
	
	The values of individual contracts are withheld under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information but the total values of contracts awarded to each company is approximately as follows:
	
		
			  million 
		
		
			 Arthur Andersen 2.5 
			 Deloitte Touche 1.3 
			 Ernst and Young 1.7 
			 KPMG 54.8 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 13.9

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the effect of the Working Time Directive on his Department's employees; how many employees are working in excess of 48 hours per week; what steps he is taking to reduce this number; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: It is the Ministry of Defence's policy to encourage civilian staff, at all levels, to move away from the long hours culture. Ten members of the senior civil service have signed opt outs. Officials are trying to establish the number of civil servants, other than senior civil servants, who have signed the voluntary opt out.
	I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

RAF Eurofighters

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which squadron will be the Operational Evaluation Unit for Eurofighter; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The operational evaluation unit for the Eurofighter will be 17 Squadron.

Naval Contracts

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much compensation has been awarded for insufficient work load in each of the last three years to (a) DML in Devonport, (b) SLM in Portsmouth and (c) BRCD; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: In the last three years a total of 2.1 million has been paid to the dockyard companies in compensation where they have been unable to otherwise recover overheads due to changes in the naval maintenance programme. Such payments are made only where it has not been possible to reflect the changing work load in the annually agreed charging rates or to mitigate its impact by allocating other work. I am withholding details of individual payments to the companies in accordance with Exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to commercial activities.

Naval Contracts

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guarantees his Department has given to (a) DML in Devonport, (b) SLM in Portsmouth and (c) BRCD as to their future work load in the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As part of the 1997 dockyard sale agreements undertakings were given to the two dockyard companies, DML at Devonport and BRDL at Rosyth, as to their share of the future naval ship maintenance work load for an agreed period. Similar arrangements apply to FSL, who operate within Portsmouth Naval Base, under the GOCO (Government Owned Contractor Operated) contract awarded to them in 1998.
	The Warship Support Modernisation Initiative, which is looking at ways to modernise support arrangements across all naval bases and dockyards, involves negotiations with the companies with a view to increasing the proportion of the surface ship refit and repair programme opened up to competition. Any undertakings on future work load will be dependent on the outcome of this initiative.

Tipnor Shooting Ranges

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Tipnor shooting ranges in Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: In November 1998, against a background of the Strategic Defence Review, the Navy Board directed the chief executive of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA) to study the size and shape of the future training estate and to make recommendations for improvement given the lower trainee throughput that is expected in 201015. The consequent review was in advance of, and is informing, the current tri-Service Defence Training Review (DTR).
	In July 2001 I announced proposed changes in the naval training estate. All naval training estate is now being considered in detail and this includes the Tipner firing range at Portsmouth. While alternative options are being studied, no decision has yet been made on the future of these ranges. Due account will be taken of proposed local transport improvement schemes and other local environmental issues before any decision is reached.

Naval Air Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the latest projection is of the in-service dates for the naval version of the Joint Strike Fighter and the new aircraft carrier; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: On current plans the in service date for the first of the two new aircraft carriers and the Joint Strike Fighters which will operate from it is 2012.

Naval Air Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the decision on which version of the air strike fighter for the new aircraft carrier to be commissioned by the Royal Navy will be used; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: We expect a decision on which variant of the Joint Strike Fighter best meets our future Joint Combat Aircraft requirement to be taken by autumn this year.

Surge Production Capacity

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what categories of military equipment there are contractual arrangements with the manufacturer to provide surge production capacity for times of conflict.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence aims to ensure that sufficient production capacity is available to meet current defence planning assumptions. I am withholding the information with regard to specific arrangements for surge production under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Public Appointments

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been appointed by him to official bodies and NDPBs coming under the aegis of his Department in the last three years; and who they were.

Lewis Moonie: Information about the numbers and remuneration of ministerial appointments to public bodies, including the names of chairpersons, is included in the annual Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House and it is also published on the Cabinet Office's website, www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango. The next edition of Public Bodies, which will include information on appointments as at 31 March 2001, will be published shortly.
	There have been 190 appointments to Ministry of Defence non-departmental public bodies over the period January 1999 to December 2001, including those sponsored by the War Pension Agency, which was part of the then Department of Social Security until July 2001.
	I will write to my hon. Friend with details of the individuals appointed and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in each of the last four years.

Lewis Moonie: This information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, information on expenditure on external assistance, categorised by type of work and top level budget holder, is contained in the Ministry of Defence's annual return of expenditure on external assistance. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House, covering the period 199697 to 19992000, and the return for financial year 200001 is currently being staffed.

MOD Housing

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many MOD houses are empty; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many MOD houses have been empty for more than six months; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: At the end of January 2002 there were some 10,500 empty married quarters in mainland UK. Of these, over 3,800 are in the course of disposal; some 2,000 are currently awaiting incoming families; a further 2,200 are being held for future unit deployments and some 1,100 are empty awaiting modernisation.
	Some 4,500 married quarters in mainland UK have been empty for six months or more at the end of January 2002. Currently, 2,350 of this total are in the course of disposal. A further 1,600 are either awaiting future deployments or are empty pending refurbishment. The remaining 550 are subject to a rolling review of their long term retention.
	Over many years, there has been a continuing decline in demand for service family housing. Currently, however, the Defence Housing Executive is making good progress with a substantial disposal programme. The number of disposals achieved since 1 January 2000 will shortly reach 10,000, with some thousands more to be disposed of during 200203.

MOD Housing

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many MOD houses have been sold to the private sector, by year, since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: In 1996, the great majority of the defence housing stock was sold to Annington Homes Ltd. (AHL) and leased back for service use. In response to the subsequent fall in demand from service families, many properties which are surplus to longer term service requirements have been, or will be, disposed of, but most such disposals result in release of the property back to AHL and thus do not constitute sales by the Ministry of Defence to the private sector. Disposals of non-AHL residential properties by MOD over the period are as follows.
	
		
			 Year Properties 
		
		
			 199798 537 
			 199899 500 
			 19992000 208 
			 200001 646 
			 200102(28) 175 
		
	
	(28) So far

Service Pensions

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what underlay the decision for service pensions to be inherited by the person who was the spouse at the time of service;
	(2)  what plans he has to review rules for the inheritance of service pensions by surviving spouses.

Adam Ingram: It was a normal and well-established principle of occupational schemes, including those in public sector, that to qualify for a widow's or widower's pension, the widow or widower of the pension had to be married to him or her at the time he or she was engaged in the occupation covered by the scheme. The Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) was similar to other public service schemes in this aspect. At the time, it was seen as reasonable to limit pensions to those widows or widowers who had shared at least some of their husband's or wife's service life.
	Post-retirement widow and widower pensions (PRWP) were introduced as a requirement of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975. Provision was made in the AFPS for the payment of pensions to widows or widowers of service pensioners who married (or remarried) after retirement, but this change benefited only the widows of those giving service on or after 6 April 1978, and the widowers of those giving service on or after 6 April 1989. Only service on or after those dates was taken into account when calculating the level of pension and there is no distinction between servicemen and other public sector employees in this respect.
	The armed forces pension review has looked at PRWP but has no plans to extend the provision to those who left before the qualifying dates. The review, however, has recommended, under the new scheme, paying a pension to a child born after the pensioner's retirement. Under the current scheme only children born, or conceived, while the member was serving are covered.
	In divorce settlements, pension sharing has been available in respect of divorce and nullity proceedings that begin on or after 1 December 2000. Under pension sharing, a percentage of the capitalised value of the pension rights which an AFPS member has accrued to date may be allocated to his or her former spouse to provide that former spouse with pension rights of her or his own. Pension sharing is not available to unmarried partners.

MOD Shooting Ranges

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what MOD shooting ranges there are in Hampshire; who uses them; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence's outdoor live firing ranges in Hampshire are:
	Tipner Range
	Browndown Training Camp
	Barton Stacey
	Chilcomb
	Longmoor Training Area(4 ranges)
	Moody's Down
	Solent Training Area.
	The users are:
	1. Regular and Reserve, University Officer Training and Cadet Units (including visiting foreign forces)
	2. Police
	3. National Rifle Association and civilian rifle clubs
	4. Bodies conducting trials, for example QinetiQ.

RAF Chilmark

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on (a) decontamination and (b) disposal of the site of former RAF Chilmark.

Lewis Moonie: The explosive ordnance disposal exercise at RAF Chilmark is continuing. Approximately half of this 52 hectare (317.5 acre) site should be certified as clear by autumn 2002.
	A considerable section of the site has already been sold on the open market. Defence Estates is currently in discussion with the representatives of a trust, which has been constituted with a view to buying an area of the site which is of high conservation and wildlife value. It is hoped that this sale will be concluded during 2002.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Expenditure

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to change the (a) resource departmental expenditure limit and (b) administration costs limit for her Department in 2001.

Hilary Benn: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate the Department for International Development Departmental Expenditure Limit for 200102 will be increased from 3,127,152,749 to 3,140,099,492. The administration cost limit will increase from 67,561,000 to 76,661,000. Within this DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  000 
		
		
			 Resources  
			 Change 90,446 
			 New DEL 2,811,939 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 2,139,919 
			 Non-voted 672,020 
			 Capital  
			 Change -71,500 
			 New DEL 328,160 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 20,447 
			 Non-voted 307,713 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from:
	a transfer of 2,000,000 resource from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to the Bilateral Development Assistance;
	a transfer of 3,500,000 resource from the Central Reserve as a part contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East;
	a transfer of 12,532,492 resource from the Central Reserve for HIPC 100 per cent.;
	to take up DEL end year flexibility of 8,000,000 resource on administration costs;
	an increase in the Bilateral Administration-in-Aid of 867,000 resource, and a corresponding increase in the gross provision;
	a transfer of 4,005,000 resource from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to Global Conflict Prevention;
	a transfer of 500,000 from the sub-Saharan AfricaProgramme voted expenditure to the Ministry of Defence;
	a transfer of 12,129,000 of UNPROFOR receipts from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to DFID's non-voted Departmental Unallocated Provision (DUP);
	a transfer of 3,000,000 from DFID's non-voted DUP to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for Conflict Prevention in Sierra Leone;
	a transfer of 20,587,000 from DFID's non-voted DUP to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for Nigeria and Burundi and to cover increased commitments in peacekeeping;
	a transfer of 42,500,000 from Multilateral Capital to Bilateral Development Assistance resource;
	a transfer of 35,000,000 from non-voted Capital to Bilateral Development Assistance resource.
	The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from:
	a transfer of 42,500,000 from Multilateral Capital to Bilateral Development Assistance resource;
	a reduction of 2,000,000 in the amount of Bilateral non- operating Administration-in-Aid;
	a reduction of 4,000,000 in the amount of Multilateral non- operating Administration-in-Aid;
	a transfer of 35,000,000 from non-voted Capital to Bilateral Development Assistance resource.

CDC

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the performance of the CDC Capital Partners.

Hilary Benn: CDC met all the Investment Policy targets in 2001. When it is available, I will place a copy of the audited annual report and accounts for 2001 in the Library of the House.

CDC

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 5W, how many of the investments made in poorer countries by the CDC were investments made in countries in sub-Sahara Africa in the years from 1998 to 2000; and if she will break these investments down by country.

Hilary Benn: The information is as follows:
	199841 out of 72 investments;
	199934 out of 60 investments;
	200026 out of 60 investments.
	This breaks down, by country, as follows.
	
		
			  1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Malawi 4 4 1 
			 Mozambique 3 2 1 
			 Zambia 3 3 2 
			 Zimbabwe 4 3 1 
			 Kenya 5 4 4 
			 Tanzania 11 6 9 
			 Uganda 5 2 1 
			 Swaziland 2 3 2 
			 Cote d'Ivoire 1 2 2 
			 Ghana 2 5 2 
			 Nigeria 0 0 1 
			 Sierra Leone 1 0 0

CDC

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 5W, how many private equity funds were jointly managed by the CDC in the years from 1996 to 2000, broken down by country.

Hilary Benn: Between 1996 and 2000 CDC did not jointly manage any private equity funds. In 2001 CDC formed a joint venture fund management company with Norfund, creating Aureos Capital. A series of country funds which hitherto had been solely managed by CDC were rolled up as part of Aureos Capital and are now jointly managed. These funds and their country of origin are shown as follows.
	199610 funds (Papua New Guinea, Ghana, Tanzania, Mauritius, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Central America, South Africa)
	199711 funds (as in 1996, plus Pacific islands)
	199813 funds (as in 1997, plus Mozambique and a second fund in Tanzania)
	199915 funds (as in 1998, plus Indian ocean and Caribbean)
	200015 funds (as in 1999, plus China, minus South Africa).

CDC

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 5W, how much was invested in the private equity funds which are jointly managed by the CDC in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000 broken down by country.

Hilary Benn: No private equity funds were jointly managed by CDC in the years concerned. A series of country funds which CDC had managed on its own became jointly managed with Aureos Capital in 2001. Information giving an exact breakdown of the amount invested in each of these funds in 1998, 1999 and 2000 is not centrally available.

CDC

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 5W, on the Commonwealth Development Corporation, whether the jointly managed series of private equity funds are subject to the same targets of 70 per cent. of new investments being made in poorer countries and 50 per cent. being made in sub-Sahara Africa.

Hilary Benn: Yes. The targets do not apply to each fund separately, but to the total of CDC's activities.

Fair Trade Products

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will take steps to encourage UK supermarkets to stock a greater range of fair trade products.

Hilary Benn: Fair Trade (FT) is a small but significant part of the international trading system that aims to build more equitable trading partnerships between north and south, by offering better prices and better trading terms to small and medium-sized producer groups in developing countries.
	The growth in sales of FT labelled products in the UK over the past five years has been dramaticalbeit from a low base. Moreover, whereas in the past, FT products were sold only through dedicated FT outlets, nowadays FT foods and beverages are to be found in an increasing number of UK supermarkets. Some retailers have even launched own label FT products and there is every indication of this trend continuing as more FT standards are agreed and consumer demand for FT increases.
	DFID has provided financial support to the media campaigns of the Fair Trade Foundation designed specifically to raise both supermarket and consumer awareness of FT. In particular DFID funds the Fair Trade Foundation's annual Fair Trade Fortnight (417 March 2002) which will draw shoppers' attention to the increasing range of FT products available in UK supermarkets.

Ghana

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on Ghana's long-term debt.

Hilary Benn: DFID has provided occasional technical assistance through Debt Relief International (DRI) to the Government of Ghana since 1998 to help them undertake debt sustainability analysis, develop a debt reduction strategy, and build capacity in the Aid and Debt Management Unit of the Ministry of Finance. DFID has not commissioned any separate research, nor commissioned any independent evaluation of the DRI's work in Ghana, although DRI's analysis has been largely verified by the World Bank and IMF during their HIPC related assessments of Ghana's debt sustainability.

TREASURY

Golden Jubilee

Tim Yeo: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what events (a) he is and (b) other Ministers in his Department are planning to attend as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations; and what events his Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 4 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 58W.

Vocational Training

Phil Willis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what was the estimated charge in tax revenue following the removal of IR 119 tax relief for students on self-funded vocational training for the financial year after the decision was implemented;
	(2)  how many students were affected by the removal of IR 119 tax relief on self-funded vocational training; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 13 February 2002
	Vocational Training Relief (VTR) was abolished with effect from 31 August 2000. The estimated cost of tax relief was around 60 million in the last full year it was available (19992000), and about 30 million in 200001. It was estimated that there were probably about 200,000 people claiming VTR in 199899. These figures are based on the number of claims received and the amount reclaimed by training providers from the Inland Revenue.

Vocational Training

Phil Willis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated benefit was of allowing tax relief on employers' contributions to fund vocational training for their employees in the last financial year.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 13 February 2002
	The information is not available.

Aggregates Tax

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the aggregates tax on existing PFI/PPP contracts.

Paul Boateng: An increase in the price of aggregates will provide an incentive to use aggregates efficiently and encourage wider use of recycled aggregates, regardless of whether they are being used in public or private sector projects.

Aggregates Tax

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the changes to Scottish local authority spending as a result of the introduction of the aggregates tax.

Paul Boateng: As confirmed in the pre-Budget report (Cm 5318) published in November 2001, the Government are introducing the aggregates levy in April 2002. Scottish local authority spending is a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive.

Aggregates Tax

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to reduce the administrative and technical difficulties in allowing quarries to act as aggregates tax collectors.

Paul Boateng: Customs and Excise has consulted extensively with the quarrying industry to ensure that accounting for aggregates levy will be as straightforward as possible.

Aggregates Tax

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact on the Scottish economy of the introduction of the aggregates tax;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact on quarries of the implementation of the aggregates tax.

Paul Boateng: A regulatory impact assessment for the aggregates levy was published at the time of Budget 2000. It is available from the Customs and Excise website.

Aggregates Tax

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage increase the proposed aggregates tax will add to the average price of a tonne of aggregate in (a) Scotland and (b) England.

Paul Boateng: The levy's impact on the cost of aggregate will be dependent upon the commercial decisions of those in the supply chain.

Aggregates Tax

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to extend the aggregates tax to include imported aggregate and concrete-based products.

Paul Boateng: Imported aggregate will be subject to levy.
	The Government have no proposals to extend the levy to include imports of concrete-based products.

Small Enterprises (Allowances)

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of 100 per cent. first year allowances for small enterprises spending on information and communication technology.

Dawn Primarolo: It is too early to assess the impact of the scheme, which was introduced less than two years ago as part of a package of measures to help businesses get on-line. The Inland Revenue are monitoring the use of the allowances.

VAT

Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether public authorities are able to reclaim VAT on leased vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: In general, public authorities which draw their funding directly from local taxation are able to recover the VAT incurred on all purchases relating to their statutory non-business activities under the section 33 VAT refund scheme. Except where specifically covered by the section 41 (3) refund scheme for certain contracted-out services, the VAT incurred by bodies which draw their funding directly from central Government may not generally be recovered, and is instead taken into account when that funding is allocated.

Revenue (Greater Manchester)

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of (a) revenue raised and (b) revenue spent by the Exchequer in the Greater Manchester area in the last 12 months.

Andrew Smith: Estimates of total revenue raised and spent by the Exchequer in Greater Manchester are not available.

Inland Revenue Staff

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 695W, if he will make a statement on the changes in staff employed by the Inland Revenue.

Dawn Primarolo: The reasons for the staffing changes in the Inland Revenue shown in the answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 695W, for the period 1 January 1999 to 1 January 2000 were:
	1. On 1 April 1999, 8,400 staff joined the department from the Contributions Agency.
	2. On 1 October 1999, 3,700 staff joined the department from the Benefits Agency.
	3. The further increase of around 245 was due to increases in work loads.

Capital Gains Taper

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the behavioural impact of the introduction of the taper on capital gains in April 1998.

Dawn Primarolo: We intend to evaluate taper relief once the system has had time for its effects to become measurable.

Reputational Externalities

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 705W, on reputational externalities, if he will state whether the assumptions used for analysing the London Underground public-private partnerships are identical to those recommended in Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The appraisal of the London Underground PPPs conforms with the guidance contained in the said document.

Northern Ireland Financial Statement

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what publication is produced by the Treasury to replace the Northern Ireland Financial Statement.

Andrew Smith: The Northern Ireland Financial Statement was published each year by the Department of Finance and Personnel until 19992000. Following devolution, details of the Northern Ireland Executive's annual budget are presented to the Northern Ireland Assembly by the Minister of Finance and Personnel and published each December.
	I have asked the Department of Finance and Personnel to provide the hon. Gentleman with a copy of the 200203 budget published on 3 December 2001 and approved by the Assembly on 11 December 2001. A copy of the budget may also be found on the Department's website at http://www.nics.gov.uk/dfp.htm.

City of London (Ward Elections) Bill

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what communications have taken place between Ministers, officials and advisers and the City of London Corporation in relation to the City of London (Ward Elections) Bill since 1997.

Andrew Smith: The City of London (Ward Elections) Bill is a private Bill and, in so far as the Government have an interest, responsibility rests with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

National Insurance

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 742W, on national insurance, which assumptions concerning SERPS were used to come to his answer; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The estimate of 750 million is the increase in national insurance employee contributions accruing in 200203. Assumptions for SERPS would not materially affect this estimate.

Industrial and Provident Societies

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) co-operation and (b) community benefit societies registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 with a registered address in (i) London, (ii) Norfolk, (iii) Hampshire and (iv) Lancashire.

Ruth Kelly: The information is not readily available. I can, however, give an estimate of the number of Industrial and Provident Societies as a whole of each of these regions:
	1,088 have a registered office address in London;
	93 in Norfolk;
	203 in Hampshire;
	184 in Lancashire.

Internet Access

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of adults had internet access in (a) St. Helens, South, (b) the St. Helens MBC area, (c) Merseyside, (d) Manchester, (e) the north-west RDA region, (f) the other RDA regions, (g) England and (h) the UK in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 14 February 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question regarding data about the percentage of adults who had internet access in (a) St. Helen's South, (b) the St. Helen's MBC area, (c) Merseyside, (d) Manchester, (e) the North West RDA region, (f) the other RDA regions, (g) England and (h) the UK in each of the last five years. (35420)
	Currently the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has available regional information for households but not adults. Presented below are the percentages of households with home access to the Internet in each of the government office regions (this is the lowest geographical breakdown available). This information is provided for the 19981999, 19992000 and 20002001 financial years. These data were not collected prior to 19981999, the data for the 20012002 financial year will be available in June 2002.
	
		Percentage of households with access to the Internet by Government Office Regions 19982001 -- Percentage
		
			   April to March  
			 Government Office Region 199899 19992000 200001 
		
		
			 North East 7 14 25 
			 North West 9 18 32 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 8 15 29 
			 East Midlands 9 19 32 
			 West Midlands 8 20 33 
			 East 11 22 35 
			 London 16 25 40 
			 South East 13 24 39 
			 South West 9 19 37 
			 England 11 20 34 
			 Wales 7 15 22 
			 Scotland 8 14 24 
			 Northern Ireland 5 11 20 
			 UK 10 19 32 
		
	
	Note:
	Like all estimates from sample surveys these figures are subject to sampling variability. This is greater for regional than for UK estimates.
	Source:
	Family Expenditure Survey (April 1998 to March 2001); Expenditure and Food Survey (April 2001 onwards).

Secondments

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were seconded between (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and his Department in (i) 19992000, (ii) 200001 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: According to central Treasury records there have been no people seconded between BP, Shell, Enron, Exxon-Mobil, Conoco, Texaco and TotalFinaElf and the Treasury in the years 19992000, 200001, and from April 2001 to date.

White Collar Workers

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what percentage of the work force in (a) St. Helens, South, (b) the St. Helens MBC area, (c) Merseyside, (d) Manchester, (e) the north-west RDA area, (f) the other RDA regions and (g) England, are civilian scientists and engineers;
	(2)  what percentage of the work force were office workers in (a) St. Helens, South, (b) the St. Helens MBC area, (c) Merseyside, (d) Manchester, (e) the north-west RDA region, (f) the other RDA regions and (g) England, in each of the last five years;
	(3)  what percentage of the work force were employed in (a) managerial, (b) professional and (c) technical positions in (i) St. Helens, South, (ii) the St. Helens MBC area, (iii) Merseyside, (iv) Manchester, (v) the north-west RDA region, (vi) the other RDA regions and (vii) England, in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 14 February 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions about (i) civilian engineers, (ii) office workers and (iii) employment in managerial, professional and technical occupations.
	The table overleaf provides the available information from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for autumn (September to November) 2001. Information for earlier years is not available on a consistent basis. Office workers are not specifically identified in the LFS, but many of the people included in the occupation categories shown in the table will have jobs which are office-based.
	
		Percentages of total employment by occupation group in main job(29),(30), autumn (September to November) 2001, not seasonally adjusted
		
			 Government office regions and St. Helens metropolitan borough council All in employment(31) (thousand) (=100%) Managers and senior officials Professional occupations: of which 211 and 212 science and engineering professionals Associate, professional and technical Administrative and secretarial 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 28,288 14.1 11.5 1.9 13.7 13.2 
			 England 23,923 14.4 11.5 1.9 14.0 13.3 
			
			 North West: 3.103 12.5 10.8 1.8 13.1 13.7 
			 Greater Manchester 1,198 11.6 10.0 1.2 13.1 14.4 
			 Merseyside 563 12.2 12.0 1.8 14.5 14.6 
			 St. Helens MBC 84 (32) 14.4 (32) (32) 12.4 
			
			 Rest of North West 1,342 13.5 11.1 2.4 12.5 12.7 
			 North East 1,101 9.8 10.4 2.1 12.6 13.9 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 2,338 12.5 9.8 1.8 11.8 11.7 
			 East Midlands 2,058 12.4 9.6 1.8 11.8 12.4 
			 West Midlands 2,511 13.9 10.4 1.8 11.4 12.9 
			 Eastern 2,748 15.0 11.2 2.4 14.2 13.8 
			 London 3,471 17.5 14.9 1.2 19.2 15.2 
			 South East 4,147 16.6 12.6 2.2 14.5 13.3 
			 South West 2,446 14.1 11.0 2.0 14.2 12.2 
			 Wales 1,263 11.9 11.2 2.0 11.4 11.7 
			 Scotland 2,391 12.5 12.2 2.5 12.7 12.5 
			 Northern Ireland 711 12.3 10.4 (32) 9.8 13.7 
		
	
	(29) The number of people employed in each Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) 2000 occupation group as a percentage of all in employment.
	(30) Base for percentage excludes people who did not state their occupation.
	(31) Includes people who did not state their occupation.
	(32) Sample size too small for reliable estimate.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Refurbishment

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much certified timber has been used in the refurbishment of the Treasury building; and what proportion of the total timber purchased for this refurbishment this represents.

Ruth Kelly: A significant majority of all timber used in the refurbishment already existed in the building. Exchequer Partnership plc, the consortium undertaking the refurbishment, has satisfied itself as far as is reasonably practical that all new timber used is certified or obtained from sustainable sources. Preference is always given to timber and timber products carrying the FSC trademark or other label from an equivalent internationally recognised independent certification system for good forest management.

Refurbishment

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action was taken by his Department to ensure that timber procured for the refurbishment of the Treasury building was sourced (a) sustainably and (b) legally.

Ruth Kelly: Under the terms of the contract, Exchequer Partnership plc warrants that neither it nor its sub-contractors have committed any illegal act, and the Treasury has the power to terminate the contract if they are found to be in breach. All new timber used in the project has, wherever possible, come from sustainable sources as required by the contract.

Refurbishment

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on timber for the refurbishment of the Treasury building.

Ruth Kelly: This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Academic Qualifications

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the work force had (a) an advanced degree, (b) a BA, (c) an associated degree and (d) undertaken higher or further education course work in (i) St. Helens, South, (ii) the St. Helens MBC area, (iii) Merseyside, (iv) Manchester, (v) the North West RDA region, (vi) the other RDA regions and (vii) England, in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 14 February 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about qualifications in the workforce. (35416)
	The table below gives the available information from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the autumn (September to November) quarters of each year from 1997 to 2001.
	
		Percentages of working age(33) people in employment by highest qualification(34), autumn (September to November), quarters 1997 to 2001, not seasonally adjusted
		
			 Government office regions and St. Helens metropolitan borough council All of working age(33) in employment(35),(36) (thousand) Higher degree First degree Other degree Other higher education below degree level 
		
		
			  Autumn (September to November) 1997   
			 UK 26,380 3.9 9.8 1.4 9.5 
			 England 22,269 3.9 9.9 1.5 9.1 
			   
			 North West: 2,936 3.1 8.9 1.3 10.2 
			 Greater Manchester 1,120 3.9 8.4 1.1 9.9 
			 Merseyside 535 3.3 8.1 (37) 10.1 
			 St. Helens 85 (37) (37) (37) 13.6 
			   
			 Rest of North West 1,281 2.3 9.6 1.3 10.5 
			 North East 1,067 2.7 6.3 1.7 8.7 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 2,204 3.8 8.3 1.4 8.6 
			 East Midlands 1,927 3.1 8.3 1.3 8.5 
			 West Midlands 2,391 3.0 8.3 0.9 8.8 
			 Eastern 2,529 3.2 8.8 1.3 8.0 
			 London 3,168 7.4 15.9 1.9 8.2 
			 South East 3,818 4.0 10.6 2.1 9.3 
			 South West 2,228 3.3 9.1 1.3 11.1 
			 Wales 1.179 3.5 7.8 1.2 10.6 
			 Scotland 2,253 3.9 9.5 0.9 12.8 
			 Northern Ireland 680 3.9 9.4 (37) 8.9 
			   
			  Autumn (September to November) 1998   
			 UK 26,735 4.4 10.3 1.6 9.9 
			 England 22,593 4.3 10.5 1.7 9.4 
			   
			 North West: 2,969 3.4 9.3 1.2 10.2 
			 Greater Manchester 1.137 3.6 9.5 1.0 9.6 
			 Merseyside 514 3.4 8.4 2.2 10.1 
			 St. Helens 77 (37) (37) (37) 15.7 
			   
			 Rest of North West 1,318 3.3 9.5 1.0 10.9 
			 North East 1,052 3.2 7.5 1.1 9.5 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 2,241 3.7 8.4 1.5 9.1 
			 East Midlands 1,943 3.1 9.1 1.9 8.3 
			 West Midlands 2,413 3.6 7.6 1.2 9.2 
			 Eastern 2,544 3.9 9.7 2.0 8.4 
			 London 3,274 7.5 17.1 2.0 8.6 
			 South East 3,892 5.0 11.7 2.2 10.1 
			 South West 2,256 3.5 9.3 1.7 11.1 
			 Wales 1,187 4.7 7.9 1.0 11.2 
			 Scotland 2,279 4.5 10.3 1.0 13.6 
			 Northern Ireland 676 4.7 9.0 (37) 9.3 
			 Autumn (September to November) 1999   
			 UK 26,997 4.6 10.7 1.7 9.7 
			 England 22,830 4.7 10.8 1.8 9.2 
			   
			 North West: 3,042 3.9 9.4 1.3 10.0 
			 Greater Manchester 1,167 4.0 9.3 1.3 9.1 
			 Merseyside 546 4.4 9.3 (37) 9.6 
			 St. Helens 77 (37) (37) (37) (37) 
			   
			 Rest of North West 1,329 3.6 9.5 1.1 11.1 
			 North East 1,064 2.9 7.3 1.0 10.0 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 2,265 3.9 8.2 1.8 9.5 
			 East Midlands 1,960 4.2 9.3 1.4 8.4 
			 West Midlands 2,408 3.7 8.7 1.2 9.3 
			 Eastern 2,581 4.2 10.1 1.7 8.2 
			 London 3,296 8.0 17.7 2.1 7.4 
			 South East 3,922 5.2 11.7 2.6 9.8 
			 South West 2,293 4.1 10.0 2.0 10.4 
			 Wales 1,215 4.0 8.8 (37) 11.6 
			 Scotland 2,270 4.4 10.7 0.9 14.2 
			 Northern Ireland 681 4.3 11.1 (37) 8.6 
			  Autumn (September to November) 2000   
			 UK 27,215 4.8 11.5 1.7 9.7 
			 England 22,971 4.8 11.7 1.8 9.2 
			   
			 North West: 3,020 4.0 10.9 1.1 10.2 
			 Greater Manchester 1,162 4.3 10.9 1.2 10.0 
			 Merseyside 542 4.7 10.9 (37) 10.9 
			 St. Helens 69 (37) (37) (37) (37) 
			   
			 Rest of North West 1,316 3.4 10.9 1.1 10.2 
			 North East 1,083 3.6 7.8 1.5 8.8 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 2,291 3.9 9.0 1.4 9.9 
			 East Midlands 1,963 3.7 10.5 1.1 9.3 
			 West Midlands 2,382 3.8 9.6 1.7 10.0 
			 Eastern 2,640 4.2 9.9 2.0 8.0 
			 London 3,302 8.1 19.1 2.4 7.3 
			 South East 3,958 5.5 12.1 2.2 9.1 
			 South West 2,332 4.0 11.0 1.8 10.5 
			 Wales 1,212 4.9 9.7 1.2 11.4 
			 Scotland 2,344 4.7 10.4 1.4 14.3 
			 Northern Ireland 689 4.6 11.1 (37) 7.9 
			   
			  Autumn (September to November) 2001   
			 UK 27,425 5.2 11.9 1.5 9.3 
			 England 23,176 5.2 12.0 1.6 8.8 
			   
			 North West: 3,020 4.4 10.3 1.1 9.6 
			 Greater Manchester 1,169 3.4 10.4 1.0 9.2 
			 Merseyside 549 5.4 10.3 (37) 9.9 
			 St. Helens 83 (37) (37) (37) (37) 
			   
			 Rest of North West 1,302 4.9 10.2 1.2 9.7 
			 North East 1,080 4.3 8.3 1.0 9.4 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 2,280 4.3 9.6 1.0 8.8 
			 East Midlands 2,003 3.8 9.5 1.3 8.1 
			 West Midlands 2,434 4.2 9.8 1.2 8.7 
			 Eastern 2,656 4.1 10.5 1.9 9.0 
			 London 3,366 9.3 20.2 2.5 7.4 
			 South East 3,988 5.6 13.1 1.9 8.7 
			 South West 2,350 4.3 10.6 1.8 10.1 
			 Wales 1,223 4.8 8.7 1.1 11.5 
			 Scotland 2,334 5.3 12.2 1.4 13.7 
			 Northern Ireland 692 5.0 11.6 (37) 8.6 
		
	
	(33) Men aged 1664 and women aged 1659.
	(34) Base for percentages excludes people who did not state their qualifications.
	(35) Includes people who did not state their qualifications.
	(36) = 100 per cent.
	(37) Sample size too small for reliable estimate.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

NIRS2

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much compensation has been paid in total to people who have been adversely affected by the problems with the NIRS2 computer system, broken down by year.

Dawn Primarolo: The delay in the implementation of NIRS2 caused arrears of work in both the Inland Revenue and the then DSS. These arrears have been managed through an integrated recovery plan. The compensation costs paid to customers as a result of the delays are:
	
		Million 
		
			 Year paid IR DSS Total 
		
		
			 199899 21.5  21.5 
			 19992000 19.5 2.5 22.0 
			 200001 14.0 1.3 15.3 
			 200102 2.8 0.7 3.5 
			  
			 Total 57.8 4.5 62.3 
		
	
	The compensation costs paid in 200001 have previously been overstated. The actual amounts paid from the National Insurance Fund are set out.

NIRS2

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer since the NIRS2 computer system first became operational, how many people have received national insurance contribution rebates after the date they were due; how much money has been paid to these people in compensation; and what his best estimate is of the total value of late rebates that are outstanding.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have paid over 57.8 million in compensation for late rebate payments since 1998. This is for compensation paid, on behalf of individuals, to pension providers for the late payment of NI age-related rebates for 199798.
	Rebate payments, together with any compensation due, are paid directly as an aggregate amount to the pension provider, not to the individual scheme member. The information in relation to these payments is not held in a way that makes it possible to quantify the number of people whose rebates for 199798 were paid late. It is not possible to estimate the total value of late rebates still outstanding, as this is partly dependent on the extent to which all relevant information for 199798 has been received from employers.

Advisory Groups

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 960W, if he will place in the Library a list of the membership of the (a) Business Advisory Group on Economic and Monetary Union, (b) Royal Mint Shareholder Panel, and (c) Standing Committee on Euro Preparations; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The members of the Royal Mint Stakeholder Panel are John Dean, Hugh Beevor and Stephen Dawson. It also includes Treasury officials with responsibility for oversight of public enterprises and the coinage. The organisations represented on both the Chancellor's Standing Committee on Euro Preparations and the Business Advisory Group on Euro Preparations were listed in the Fifth Report on Euro Preparations, published in November 2001. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Princess of Wales Memorial Committee

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money from the proceeds of the 5 coin has been paid to projects recommended by the Princess of Wales Memorial Committee; how many organisations have received allocations; and how many will do so in 2002.

Ruth Kelly: The sale of commemorative and collector coins in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales raised 7,404,000 by 12 February 2002. This will be used to offset voted expenditure on projects put forward by the Diana Memorial Committee.
	I gave details of these projects in my answer of 7 November 2001, Official Report, column 260W. As I said then, the total cost of the park projects to date is 6,000,000. Half of this has been spent, the balance associated with the building of the fountain in Hyde Park, will be used by summer 2003. The Diana Nursing Teams cost 2,000,000 in each of the last two financial years. They are forecast to cost the same this year and again in 200203.

EDS Contract

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell of 29 January, what the value is of the full 10 year contract with EDS in 2002 prices (a) excluding and (b) including IT assets; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The value of the contract in 2002 prices is 2.4 billion excluding capital and 2.8 million including capital. In the past, we have reported the value of the contract in 1994 prices so for completeness this compares with 2.0 billion excluding capital and 2.3 billion including capital. The difference is actual and forecast inflation.

Union Duties

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department, agencies and non- departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in each of the last four years.

Ruth Kelly: The arrangements for granting paid leave for union duties are the subject of formal agreements between Departments and the recognised trade unions within each Department. The agreements vary to reflect the needs of each Department. As the day-to-day management of each agreement is in the hands of managers throughout the UK detailed figures of the type sought are not readily available in every Department and the cost of collecting them would be disproportionate.
	Managers are aware of the need to guard against excessive or unnecessary absences and paid union activity is restricted to the minimum necessary to ensure effective industrial relations and minimise strife.

Departmental Website

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost of his Department's website was in real terms in each of the last four years; and how many hits it received in each of those years.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 321W.

National Insurance Contributions

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to rule out removing the ceiling on employees' national insurance contributions.

Dawn Primarolo: As with all elements of taxation, the Chancellor reviews the levels and threshold for national insurance contributions annually and will continue to keep the upper earnings level and other earnings limits and thresholds under review.

Tax (Students)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue last updated their advice and information to full-time students who have earnings or other income; and in what form this advice is available.

Dawn Primarolo: The current Inland Revenue leaflet IR60Income Tax and Students was published in June 1997. The contents of this leaflet are currently being reviewed and a revised version is expected to be issued in April.

1911 Census

Chris Mullin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis the 1911 Census returns remain confidential; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Chris Mullin dated 14 February 2002
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking on what basis the 1911 Census returns remain confidential. (36599).
	The 1911 Census records are subject to the Public Records Act 1958 (Instrument No 12 dated 1966), and are closed to the public for a period of 100 years. The Lord Chancellor in conjunction with the Minister of Health, who at that time was responsible for the Census, prescribed the closure period. At the time of the 1911 Census, assurance was given that the contents of the Schedule would be treated as strictly confidential.
	Under the Public Records Act, there is provision for a record held by the Public Record Office to be inspected if special authority is given by the department responsible for the record. In 1993 it was announced in Parliament that the Registrar General would be willing to consider particular applications for information to be extracted from the 1911 returns if it would enable the applicant to establish a legal entitlement such as an inheritance. A concession announced in 1993 which does allow the release of information from the 1911 Census, is conditional upon the applicant requiring the information solely in order to establish a legal entitlement and would only be considered where the information could not be obtained from any other source.

Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals were brought under the provisions referred to in (a) subsection (2)(e) (Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14) (social security decisions and appeals: Great Britain)) and (b) (2)(f) (Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (social security decisions and appeals: Northern Ireland)) of Clause 46 of the Tax Credits Bill in each year since 1997; and how many of these appeals were successful.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of first tier appeals made against child benefit and guardian's allowance decisions and the number of those appeals that were found in favour of the appellant since 1997 are:
	
		
			  Number of appeals Successful appeals 
		
		
			 Great Britain   
			 1997 4,315 155 
			 1998 4,730 215 
			 1999 1,960 185 
			 2000 1,255 75 
			 2001 1,120 70 
			 Northern Ireland   
			 1997 117 13 
			 1998 93 11 
			 1999 141 2 
			 2000 75 1 
			 2001 78 1 
		
	
	Notes:
	All figures are subject to change as more up to date data becomes available.
	Figures after June 2001 are provisional.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Select Committee Witnesses (Gender)

Margaret Moran: To ask the President of the Council if he will collate statistics on the gender breakdown of witnesses to each select committee since 1997.

Robin Cook: The choice of witnesses is a matter for individual Select Committees. The Minutes of Proceedings issued each Session for each Committee give details of witnesses, although the sex of a particular individual may not always be clear from their name and title. On these grounds, the cost of collating such figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Working Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the President of the Council when he expects the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons to report on the reform of the daily working practices of the House.

Robin Cook: The Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons has just published its report on the Select Committee System.
	The Committee now plans to address some of the other issues contained in the Memorandum I presented to the Committee before Christmas. I hope the Committee will be able to report on these issues as soon as is practical.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Fair Trade Fortnight

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Advocate-General what steps she is taking to encourage participation by her Department in Fair Trade Fortnight from 4 to 17 March.

Lynda Clark: The Office of the Advocate- General for Scotland provides legal advice and services to the Government and has very limited requirements for goods which are subject to fair trade schemes. However, the Department for International Development is providing 120,000 to the Fair Trade Foundation over three years from 2001 in support of the foundation's efforts to target new groups through its annual Fair Trade Fortnight. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for International Development will be attending the launch of this year's campaign on 4 March.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

New Millennium Experience Company

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was to the New Millennium Experience Company of commissioning Anthony Gormley's Quantum Cloud; and who currently owns the sculpture.

Tessa Jowell: The cost to NMEC of commissioning and installation was 1.2 million. The sculpture is owned by Anthony Gormley.

Libraries

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on how the quality of libraries is determined, and on the results of evaluations undertaken in each local authority in the past 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government have encouraged better planning and accountability in public library services through the introduction of annual library plans in 1998. This process was strengthened still further in April 2001 with the introduction of public library standards. From 2001, ALPs have been used as the main vehicle for assessing the quality of library services, as library authorities are required to use them to report on their current position against the standards and their plans for meeting them in the future. In addition, all local authority services, including libraries, are subject to best value, and best value reviews provide a further valuable insight into the provision and plans made by authorities for continuous improvement in their library provision. Before the introduction of the annual library plans, public library standards and best value, there was no on-going check of library authority plans and performance.

Libraries

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Government have spent on library book funds per annum per local authority in each of the past 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Funding for public libraries generally is provided through the Environmental Protection and Cultural Services (EPCS) block and through council tax. In the latest Local Government Financial Settlement (for 200203) the funds for the EPCS block were increased by 4.2 per cent., a real terms increase of 1.7 per cent.
	It is for library authorities to decide how much of their funding to allocate to their libraries, and then to the purchase of books and other materials, in line with their statutory duty to provide library services that are comprehensive and efficient.

Libraries

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many libraries have closed in each of the past three years in England and Wales;
	(2)  how many libraries there are in England and Wales.

Kim Howells: A register of all library openings and closures in England is not held centrally. However, DCMS was glad to note the opening of the new Epsom Library at the Ebbishall Centre in May 2001 with more floor space and longer opening hours.
	The total number of libraries in England for the last three years has been:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 199798 3,053 
			 199899 3,037 
			 19992000 3,031 
		
	
	The figures reflect branch and central libraries only. They do not include mobile libraries or special services provided by English library authorities to senior citizens' homes and others in sheltered housing schemes. In 19992000 the figures for these two types of provision were, respectively, 440 mobiles and 14,617 outlets in institutions.
	Library provision in Wales is properly a matter for the Minister for Culture, Sport and Welsh Language and the National Assembly for Wales.

Sports Funding

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the sources of the 2 billion investment in sport that she announced on 3 February, broken down by (a) the financial year in which it is to be paid, (b) the financial year in which it is to be accounted for, (c) the method of distribution of the funds and (d) whether it had been announced before.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The current sources of funding for sport are as follows:
	New Opportunities Fund PE and Sport Programme
	581 million in England. All funding will be committed by 2005. Announced by Prime Minister in September 2000. Local education authorities will act as lead organisations in submitting applications to the New Opportunities Fund.
	New Opportunities FundPlaying Fields and Community Green Spaces Scheme
	30 million for England to be administered by Sport England. Planned that all funding will be committed by 2005. Scheme commenced in April 2001.
	New Opportunities FundBetter Play Grant Programme
	9 million delivered by Barnardo's and children's Play Council. Planned that all funding will be committed by 2003.
	New Opportunities FundActivities for young people programme
	38.75 million to be committed by 2003. Distributed by NOF to lead organisations in 47 Connexions areas. Launched in August 2001.
	New Opportunities FundOut of School Hours Sport Activities
	25.5 million to be committed by 2004. Distributed through partnership between NOF and Sports Councils.
	Space for Sport and Arts
	130 million to be distributed by 200304. Grants paid to local education authorities by Sport England which is administering the scheme. Scheme announced in March 2001.
	Sport Englandgrant in aid
	43.2 million in 200102, 53.3 million in 200203 and 78.3 million in 200304. Announced July 2000.
	Sport EnglandLottery sports Fund
	224,000 million in 200102, 202,000 million in 200203 and 188,000 million in 200304.
	UK Sportgrant in aid
	17.6 million in 200102, 19.6 million in 200203 and 19.6 million in 200304. Announced in July 2000.
	UK Sport Lottery Sports Fund
	22.1 million in 200102, 22.7 million in 200203 and 23.7 million in 200304.
	Commonwealth games
	10.5 million for the opening ceremony to be paid to Manchester 2002 Ltd. in 200102 and 200203. Announced in July 2000.
	30 million towards the games budget to be paid to Manchester city council through Sport England. Announced in July 2001.
	Football Licensing Authority
	925,000 a year for 200102, 200203 and 200304. Announced July 2000.
	Specialist Sports Colleges
	14.2 million in 200102, 24.3 million in 200203 and 34.7 million in 200304. Funds distributed by DFES to individual sports colleges. Announced July 2000.
	Volunteering in Sport Project
	3 million in 200203 and 4 million in 200304. To be distributed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to Youth Sport Trust, British Sports Trust and Sport England, who will be implementing the project. Announced March 2001.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed in her Department on a job share contract; and what percentage of vacant positions was advertised on this basis in the last 12 months.

Kim Howells: There are currently no staff employed on a job share contract in the Department.
	All vacancies advertised state that
	applications are welcome from staff wishing to job-share or work part-time, and managers will seek to accommodate flexible working patterns.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My Department's independent staff counselling service report that over the past year they have dealt in confidence with three work-related stress cases. Details for the previous two years are not available. No compensation has been paid out over the past three years. While levels of sick absence are closely monitored, we do not have records to identify which absences through stress are work-related; therefore the cost similarly cannot be identified. However, my Department is committed to meeting the targets for reducing the number of working days lost generally due to work related injuries and illness in line with the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative. To this end my Department introduced a new stress management policy last year providing staff and managers with guidance on identifying and managing stress more effectively, and this month we are launching a dedicated Health and Well-Being intranet site for all staff. A full review of work-life balance polices has also been conducted recently. The costs involved in these initiatives are not available.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the effect of the working time directive on her Department's employees; how many employees are working in excess of 48 hours per week; what steps she is taking to reduce this number; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The results of working hours surveys conducted in my Department, including the Royal Parks Agency, indicate that there are occasions where a small number of senior staff are working voluntarily in excess of 48 hours per week. However, no staff are doing so on a regular basis save for a group of horticultural staff in the royal parks who are on all hours worked contracts and have signed an opt out agreement. The actual hours worked by staff in different parts of the Department are monitored regularly against conditioned working hours to identify any developing trends and/or potential problem areas. Where these arise, divisional business plans and work demands may be adjusted, and individual staff offered time management training. My Department has also conducted a review of personnel policies with the aim of achieving a better work-life balance for all staff. This review took account of the results of the working hours surveys and of responses to work-life balance questions posed in last year's annual staff attitude survey.

Sport England

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications for funding via Sport England in (a) rural areas and (b) urban areas have been (i) received and (ii) approved in each year since Sport England was set up.

Richard Caborn: The information requested is as follows.
	
		
			  Rural(38) Urban 
			 Year Applications received Applications approved Applications received Applications approved 
		
		
			 199495 33 17 51 17 
			 199596 410 289 883 528 
			 199697 408 254 852 480 
			 199798 504 181 1043 367 
			 199899 418 141 828 293 
			 19992000 253 114 564 244 
			 200001 135 82 467 181 
			 200102 156 60 581 160 
			  
			 Total 2,317 1,138 5,269 2,270 
		
	
	(38) Applications in respect of rural local authorities as defined by the Countryside Agency for the purposes of its State of the Countryside Report.

Sport England

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what the minimum usage levels are for sports schemes that will qualify for lottery funding via Sport England;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to ensure that rural areas are not deprived of lottery funding from Sport England because of lower usage levels than in urban areas.

Richard Caborn: Sport England does not apply any minimum usage levels in considering whether to award lottery funding to sports projects. Each application is judged on the merits of the particular case, taking into account, among other things, value for money and the need for the facility in question whether it is in a rural or urban area.

National Youth Music Theatre

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has made to the Department of Education and Skills over funding for the National Youth Music Theatre.

Kim Howells: This Department has been in close contact with the Department for Education and Skills over the issue of funding for all youth music organisations, including the National Youth Music Theatre. National Youth Music Theatre has already received 35,000 from an initial central fund for the national youth music organisations. Together with the Department for Education and Skills, the Arts Council of England and the National Foundation for Youth Music we are looking at how best to secure the future of these organisations.

Lottery Awards

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average lottery award has been in the (a) Cleethorpes and (b) Grimsby constituencies; and what the UK average is.

Richard Caborn: According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the National Lottery awards database, the average lottery award made to date in the Cleethorpes and Grimsby constituencies are 28,092 and 44,163 respectively. The median average lottery award for UK constituencies is 54,861, and the average award to UK lottery projects, found by dividing the total amount awarded by the total number of projects, is 98,509.

Fair Trade

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 16 November 2001, Official Report, column 952W, on fair trade goods, if she will review and increase the amount of fairly traded goods purchased by her Department during Fair Trade Fortnight.

Kim Howells: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is a small policy Department with a purchasing profile that would make little impact on suppliers from any source over a very limited period. There is a commitment to fairly traded goods which will be pursued throughout the year and, where considerations of propriety and value for money allow, those goods will be given preference.

Ministerial Boxes

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what means ministerial boxes are conveyed from private offices in her Department to (a) herself and (b) her fellow Ministers; how frequently and at what expense private courier firms are employed for such a task; and which courier firms have been used for such duties.

Richard Caborn: Wherever possible, ministerial boxes are conveyed between Ministers' homes and their private offices by means of the secure services provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency. Where this would be uneconomic, ministerial boxes are sent using the secure service provided by Consignia.

Sport Funding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on the Government's statement on spending 2 billion on sport.

Richard Caborn: The hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 7 February for a list of the sources of this funding. There have been no other representations.

Ministerial Visit (Belfast)

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to visit Belfast; and if her Department will support the celebrations of British maritime history on the anniversary of the Titanic.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State visited Belfast in October 2001 but she currently has no plans for a future visit. While we recognise the illustrious contribution that our maritime history has made to the United Kingdom, the holding of such celebrations in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.

National Stadium

Ann Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the FA and Wembley National Stadium about the financing of the National Stadium project; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: I set out the Government's position on the Football Association's National Stadium project to the House on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 291. My officials are working closely with the Football Association, Wembley National Stadium Ltd., Sport England and other interested parties to monitor progress in addressing the issues I set out to the House. Sir Rodney Walker, Chairman of WNSL has already written to me setting out how WNSL are addressing these issues. In that letter Sir Rodney requested a letter for his bankers setting out the Government's commitment to the project and the conditions which attach to that commitment. This I was happy to provide. I am arranging for copies of this exchange of correspondence to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Stonehenge

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on proposals to create a tunnel at Stonehenge.

David Jamieson: holding answer 12 February 2002
	I have been asked to reply.
	The proposals to build a 2 km cut and cover tunnel to take the A303 past Stonehenge were announced in July 1998 in A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England as an exceptional environmental scheme. They are the central component of a wider set of proposals, set out in the Stonehenge master plan to restore the world heritage site and the scheduled ancient monument to its pre-historic setting.
	The Highways Agency is currently seeking feasibility proposals and costs from the construction industry which include two options for the tunnel: a 2 km cut and cover tunnel and a 2 km shallow bored tunnel. The proposals will be scrutinised carefully to ensure that they meet the agreed requirements for this archaeologically important site, offer value for money and deliver the best balance of benefits.
	The aim is to begin the necessary statutory procedures later this year. Subject to the outcome, construction could start in 2005.

Cemeteries

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance she is planning to give to local authorities to make memorials in cemeteries safe.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 29 January 2002
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Local Government Finance Settlement 200203 provides funds for local authorities' responsibilities in this area. Provision for funding on environmental, protective and cultural services has increased, on a like for like basis, by 360 million or 4.2 per cent. Local authorities are, of course, responsible for decisions on their own spending priorities, bearing in mind their statutory responsibilities and the wishes of their electorate.
	We are looking, with local government, at pressures on local authorities in the context of Spending Review 2002, and are aware that the Local Government Association (LGA) have highlighted the additional cost of making memorials in cemeteries safe. We will be looking closely at the case made by the LGA, having regard to the Government's position on funding the renovation of unsafe memorials, as set out in our response to the Environment Select Committee report on cemeteries (Reference CM Paper 5281).

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Golden Jubilee Celebrations

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what events (a) she is and (b) other Ministers in her Department are planning to attend as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations; and what events her Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 4 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 February 2002, Official Report, columns 5859W.

Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the average cost of processing each information request under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Ivan Lewis: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the period of time elapsed is for the oldest outstanding request for information under the Data Protection Act 1998, since receipt of the (a) original request and (b) administration fee.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for Education and Skills has five outstanding requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998.
	For the oldest request, 36 days have elapsed since the original request for information was received.
	The Department does not charge a fee for requests for information under the Act.

Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the longest period of time elapsed is between receiving (a) the administration fee and providing the information requested and (b) a request for information and providing the information requested, under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Ivan Lewis: The longest period of time that has elapsed between a request for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the provision of that information is 60 days.
	The Department for Education and Skills does not charge a fee for requests for information under the Act.
	The data controller is also not obliged to comply with the request until he has been supplied with such information as he may reasonably require to confirm the requester's identity and to locate the information that the requester requires. The 40-day period begins when this information is received.

Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what administration fees are charged by the Department for information requests made under the Data Protection Act 1998;
	(2)  what percentage of responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 the Department has completed (a) within 40 days of receipt of the 10 fee, (b) between 40 and 60 days of and (c) over 60 days after receiving the administration fee;
	(3)  how many responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 the Department has completed (a) within 40 days of receipt of, (b) between 40 and 60 days of receiving and (c) over 60 days after receiving the 10 administration fee.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for Education and Skills does not charge a fee for requests for information under the Act.

Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the policy of the Department is for ensuring responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 are completed within 40 days; and what their procedure is to achieve this.

Ivan Lewis: Requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 are logged by the departmental Data Protection Officer (DPO).
	When the DPO has either to trawl the Department or approach individual divisions for information, he ensures that a deadline is set for response that gives him sufficient time to co-ordinate the response within the requirements of the Act, and ensures that any non-response is followed up promptly.

Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Department's procedure is for responding to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998; if she will place a copy in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 are logged by the departmental Data Protection Officer (DPO) who also co-ordinates the completion of the response within the requirements of the Act.
	The DPO may write to the requester seeking such evidence as he may reasonably require to confirm the requester's identity and to locate the information that the requester requires. Depending on the response, he will initiate a search either with the relevant division(s) or Department-wide. The DPO is responsible for sifting the information provided and co-ordinating the final reply within the required 40-day deadline.

Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 have been completed (a) within 40 days, (b) between 40 and 60 days and (c) over 60 days after receiving the original letter; and how many are still outstanding.

Ivan Lewis: The data controller is not obliged to comply with the request until he has been supplied with such information as he may reasonably require to confirm the requester's identity and to locate the information that the requester requires. The 40-day period begins when this information is received.
	With reference to that date, the numbers completed are as follows: (a) 20 (b) 6 (c) 0.
	There are five requests outstanding.

Individual Learning Accounts

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her latest estimate is of the losses sustained by learning providers following the closure of the ILA scheme in November 2001; whether she intends to accept claims for compensation for such losses; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: holding answer 11 February 2002
	The Department is in no position to estimate the losses sustained by learning providers following the closure of the individual learning account programme on 23 November 2001. The Department has no plans to compensate learning providers in relation to the closure.
	Our intention is that all bookings of validated eligible learning made with the ILA centre by 23 November will be honoured. The extent to which organisations made business decisions around their participation in ILAs is something each organisation determined for itself.

Individual Learning Accounts

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her latest estimate is of the amount of fraudulent claims made under the individual learning accounts scheme; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: holding answer 11 February 2002
	The Department's Special Investigations Unit is investigating 96 registered learning providers. Of these, police are investigating 13 and the Department's Special Investigation Unit is discussing a further 53 with the police. 44 arrests have been made in relation to allegations of fraud with the operation of the individual learning account programme, 13 have been charged one of whom has been convicted.
	As at 31 December, the Department had received some 5,800 complaints from individuals claiming that money had been drawn from their individual learning account without their knowledge or consent. Complaints received will be followed up with providers, and where we have evidence of fraud we will make referrals to the police. It is not possible at this stage to determine costs in relation to the abuse of the individual learning account programme. Costs will become clearer as learning provider and police investigations progress.

Individual Learning Accounts

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the reason was for the closure of the individual learning account scheme; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 26 November 2001, Official Report, column 591W.

Individual Learning Accounts

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1, ref 31413, on ILAs, if she will place in the Library the terms of the consultation being conducted, the means by which providers, learners and other stakeholders have been informed and the closing date for receipt of responses.

John Healey: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The consultation exercise is aimed at seeking views on the strengths and weaknesses of the ILA scheme and ideas on what a replacement scheme should include. We have written to all registered ILA providers and to 32 national stakeholders to inform them of the exercise. There will be a telephone survey of a sample of 1,000 ILA holders. There is also a consultation website (http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ ilaviews), through which learners, providers and others can give their views and enter into debate. The website also provides information about the various strands of the consultation exercise. It is planned that surveys and interviews will be completed by the end of February. There will then be a series of workshops, which will be held in March.

Individual Learning Accounts

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what was the total (a) number and (b) cost of individual learning accounts issued to persons with special educational needs.

John Healey: holding answer 13 February 2002
	Data collected from individual learning account holders during the application process did not require them to supply information about special educational needs.

Pay Scales

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to address the difference in pay between teachers in secondary schools and lecturers in further education colleges.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 13 February 2002
	We are aware of the differences between salaries in general further education colleges, sixth form colleges and schools and this issue is being considered as part of the current spending review.
	As independent organisations, it is for each college to agree annual pay rises and conditions of employment with its staff in the context of the overall resources available to them. This year alone, an additional 527 million is available for FE, a 12 per cent. real terms increase on last year. Funding will increase again next year by a further three per cent. This compares with the period between 199394 and 199697 when FE funding per FTE student fell by 12 per cent. in real terms. As part of the planned increases, we are investing more than 300 million in the Teaching Pay Initiative between 2001 and 2004 to allow colleges, including sixth form colleges, to reward high quality teaching. This is separate to any general pay rise a teacher may receive.

16+ Learning

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what requirement there is for Learning and Skills Councils to draw up a marketing plan to promote 16+ learning.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 13 February 2002
	The Learning and Skills Council has a statutory duty to encourage individuals to take part in post-16 education and training, and to encourage employers to participate in and contribute to its provision. Local Learning and Skills Councils must prepare a plan for each financial year, but there is no specific requirement for a marketing plan.

16+ Learning

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish (a) local and (b) national marketing plans for Learning and Skills Councils to promote 16+ learning.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 13 February 2002
	This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, to write to the hon. Lady and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

Higher Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 718W, on higher education, which of the courses listed are carried out at universities and funded by HEFCE.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 13 February 2002
	The Higher Education Funding Council for England funds all the courses cited in my reply of 4 February carried out at universities and colleges of higher education, provided they meet the HEFCE criteria for funding. The funding criteria can be found in HEFCE publication 01/52Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey, and include, for example, that the course is open to any suitably qualified candidate and there is no duplication of HEFCE funding from any other public source.

Postgraduate Certificate of Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students entered PGCE courses in (a) 199798, (b) 199899, (c) 19992000 and (d) 200001; and how many of them dropped out before completion of the course.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available in the form requested; there is no single central data collection for both the numbers entering PGCE courses and numbers completing them.
	The numbers of new entrants to courses of initial teacher training at institutions in England are collected through the Teacher Training Agency's Annual Survey of Training Providers. The table shows the number of new entrants to PGCE courses in the years in question:
	
		Table 1: Number of new entrants to PGCE courses, 199798 to 200001
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 200001 19,616 
			 19992000 17,461 
			 199899 17,415 
			 199798 18,100 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures cover providers in England only
	Sources:
	Teacher Training Agency (TTA)
	Annual Survey of ITT Providers 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
	Most PGCE trainees enter one-year courses.
	The Initial Teacher Training Performance Profiles, published annually by the Teacher Training Agency, show the numbers of final-year trainees at institutions in England at 1 December who fail to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by the end of their final year. The table shows this information for the three latest years for which data are available:
	
		Table 2: Number of final year PGCE trainees who failed to gain QTS, 199798 to 19992000
		
			  Number of final year trainees Number failed to gain QTS at end of final year 
		
		
			 19992000 17,167 2,320 
			 199899 17,431 2,267 
			 199798 17,998 2,634 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures cover providers in England only.
	2. Number of trainees who failed to gain QTS includes those who failed the course, those who left before the end, and those yet to complete. Some of the latter group may have been awarded QTS at a later date.
	Sources:
	Teacher Training Agency (TTA)
	ITT Performance Profiles 1999, 2000, 2001

Line Management

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what was the average number of staff for which (a) secondary school teachers and (b) further education lecturers have line management responsibility.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 13 February 2002
	This information is not collected centrally.

Violence in Schools

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she is taking to address violence against teachers and other school staff members during school hours.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 716W, which explained the initiatives the Department for Education and Skills has undertaken, and is undertaking, to reduce the incidence of abuse by parents and others against school staff. This is in addition to the legal remedies that exist for dealing with harassment and violence. The Department has provided 178 million in 200102 to schools and local education authorities to help support measures to tackle poor pupil behaviour. This funding backs up the guidance in Circular 10/99 Social Inclusion: Pupil Support.
	The Department has also recently announced 10 million for 200203 from the capital modernisation fund for local education authorities to spend on local school security improvements to help make premises more secure from intruders.

National Youth Music Theatre

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what recent representations she has received on the funding of the National Youth Music Theatre;
	(2)  when she will make a decision on the funding for the National Youth Music Theatre;
	(3)  what commitment she has made to match the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's offer of 500,000 to the National Youth Music Theatre.

Ivan Lewis: A number of representations have been made about funding for national youth music organisations, including the National Youth Music Theatre, and meetings have been held with the National Foundation for Youth Music, which represents their interests.
	This Department has already made available grants totalling 12 million over the last three years (19992000 to 20012002) for National Voluntary Youth Organisations; of which the National Youth Music Theatre received 112,000. We have also provided 50,000 towards the start-up costs of a central fund for national youth music organisations.
	I am considering what role these organisations might play in supporting young musicians and a decision on funding is expected to be made shortly. The Department is working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Arts Council for England and other external partners in this area.

Primary Education Standards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the relationship between the number of pupils attending a primary school and educational standards; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The following tables set out the distribution of achievement at Key Stages 1 and 2 by the size of a school's pupil cohort. For schools with a cohort of 10 or more pupils, school size appears to have little significant effect on the proportion of children achieving the expected standard for their age.
	
		Key Stage 1: Percentage of pupils at Level 2 or above (test)
		
			   Size of cohort  
			  010 1020 2040 4080 80100 100 and over All schools 
		
		
			 Reading task/test(39) 65 84 84 83 84 85 83 
			 Writing task 65 84 85 85 86 86 84 
			 Mathematics 69 89 90 90 91 91 90 
		
	
	(39) These percentages are based on achievements at Level 2C/B/A in the reading task and Level 3 and 4 in the reading test.
	
		Key Stage 2: Percentage of pupils at Level 4 or above (test)
		
			   Size of cohort  
			  010 1020 2040 4080 80100 100 and over All schools 
		
		
			 English 59 73 77 74 75 76 75 
			 Mathematics 56 71 74 71 71 71 72 
			 Science 66 81 86 85 85 86 85

HE2 Forms

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many HE2 forms were submitted in 2001; and how many applicants completed details of financial obligations as described in question 39.

Margaret Hodge: To date in the 200102 academic year 718,000 students in England and Wales have submitted HE2 forms to their local education authorities. All applicants are required to complete details of financial obligations as described in question 39.

Fast-track Teachers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools employ fast-track teachers.

Stephen Timms: The first teachers on the Fast-Track Programme will take up posts in September 2002. 110 successful candidates took up places in Fast-Track Initial Teacher Training in September 2001; teachers on the Fast-Track Programme are required to gain Qualified Teacher Status before taking up approved Fast-Track posts in schools.

Departmental Expenditure Limit

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to change the departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limits for 200102.

Ivan Lewis: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Department for Education and Skills' DEL (including the Office for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools (Ofsted) which has a separate Estimate) will be increased by 83,651,000 from 20,220,827,000 to 20,304,478,000 and the administration costs limits will be changed as follows.
	
		000 
		
			   Original Change Revised 
		
		
			 DfES (RfR1) 219,045 685 219,730 
			 Sure Start (RfR3) 3,449 441 3,890 
			 Children and Young People's Unit (RfR4) 2,666 -175 2,491 
			 Ofsted 27,095 0 27,095 
		
	
	Within the DEL change, the impact on the resources element and the capital element are as set out in the following table:
	
		000 
		
			  Of which:  
			   Change New DEL Voted Non-voted 
		
		
			 Resources 
			 RfR 1 59,953 17,015,128 6,675,262 10,339,866 
			 RfR 3 441 125,833 125,833 0 
			 RfR 4 -1,543 98,073 98,073 0 
			 Total change 58,851
			 Ofsted 694 152,019 152,019 0 
			 Capital 
			 RfR 1 1,938 2,820,374 1,851,123 969,251 
			 RfR 3 21,462 80,470 80,470 0 
			 RfR 4 0 0 0 0 
			 Total change 23,400
			 Ofsted 706 12,581 12,581 0 
		
	
	The increase in the voted resource element of the DEL for RfR1, (129,703,000) arises from the take up of 108,000,000 of End-Year Flexibility provision; the increase in receipts of 20,000,000 resulting from the winding up of the Training and Enterprise Councils; the increase of 30,000,000 in receipts surrendered to the Consolidated Fund, the transfer of 8,511,000 to the Department for Work and Pensions for Basic Skills, disability issues undertaken by the Disability Rights Commission and hardship payments to young people in lieu of bridging allowances; the transfer of 2,175,000 from the Department for Trade and Industry; the transfer from Student Tuition Fees of 1,450,000 to the Teacher Training Agency Grant in Aid; the transfer of 1,400,000 to the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England to fund increased contract prices and the monitoring of schools facing challenge; the transfer of 1,105,000 from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for a project to address the training and skills in the Road Haulage Industry, Neighbourhood Surveys and a pilot project on Resident's Consultancy; the transfer to the Home Office of 920,000 for the prison education service and a contribution to the Black Training and Enterprise Group; the transfer of 500,000 to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs towards the Milk and Milk Products (Pupils in Educational Establishments) (Scotland) Regulations 2001; the net transfer of 137,000 to the Department of Health for the Care Standards Tribunal, Personal Social and Health Education and the Protection of Children Act Tribunal; the net transfer of 84,000 to the Scottish Executive for the Scottish Council of National Training Organisations and European education programmes; the transfer of 45,000 from the Office for National Statistics for Neighbourhood Statistics; the transfer of 8,037,000 to the Department for Work and Pensions, 568,000 to the Department of Trade and Industry and 15,000 to the Cabinet Office as part of the machinery of government changes announced by the Prime Minister on 8 June 2001; and the virement of 90,000,000 from non-voted DEL to reflect the changes in funding certain departmental programmes.
	The increase of 441,000 in the voted resource element of the DEL for RfR3 arises from the take up of End-Year Flexibility.
	The reduction in the voted resource element of DEL for RfR4 arises from the transfer of 1,543,000 to the Home Office for the evaluation of programmes.
	The increase of 694,000 in the voted resource element of DEL for Ofsted arises from the transfer from DfES (RfR1) for increased contract prices and the monitoring of schools facing challenge.
	The decrease in the voted capital element of the DEL for RfR1, (4,875,000) arises from receipts of 6,063,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry, the virement of 1,200,000 from non-voted capital to fund the loss on the sale of Letchworth Skill Centre, the transfer of 45,000 from the Office for National Statistics for Neighbourhood Statistics and the transfer of 57,000 to the Department of Trade and Industry as part of the machinery of government changes announced by the Prime Minister on 8 June 2001.
	The increase of 21,462,000 in the voted capital element of the DEL for RfR3 arises from the take up of End-Year Flexibility.
	The increase of 706,000 in the voted capital element of the DEL for Ofsted arises from the transfer from DfES (RfR1) for increased contract prices and the monitoring of schools facing challenge.
	The decrease in the non-voted resource element of the DEL for RfR1, (69,750,000) arises from an increase of 20,000,000 to the grant in aid to the Learning and Skills Council, a transfer of 1,450,000 from Student Tuition fees to the Teacher Training Agency to fund flexible Initial Teacher Training Fees and a virement of 91,200,000 to voted DEL to reflect the changes in funding certain departmental programmes and the loss on the sale of Letchworth Skill Centre.
	The increase in the non-voted capital element of the DEL for RfR1, (6,813,000) arises from the transfer from the Department of Health for the National Institute of Psychiatry (750,000) and the increase of 6,063,000 in the provision for the Higher Education Funding Council for England funded by the receipts from the Department of Trade and Industry.

PRIME MINISTER

Political Donations

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister when (a) he and (b) officials in his office were first informed of the donation registered by the Electoral Commission under the name of Mr. Lakshmi N. Mittal on 20 June 2001.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) on 13 February 2002, Official Report, columns 19899.

Delayed Discharges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the most recent delayed discharge figures referred to in his answer given to the right hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Inverness, West (Mr. Kennedy) on 30 January 2002, Official Report, column 283; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Health to the hon. Member on 21 January 2002, Official Report, column 688W.

Legal Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Prime Minister what legal costs have been incurred by his Department in each of the last four years.

Tony Blair: Legal costs incurred by my office in each of the last four years are as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1998 0.00 
			 199899 0.00 
			 19992000 0.00 
			 200001 40.00

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost to his Office was for accountancy services in each of the last four years.

Tony Blair: No expenditure has been made by my office.

Performance and Innovation Unit

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Prime Minister what the role of the performance and innovation unit is; and if he will make a statement on its organisation.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 14 January 2002, Official Report, column 87W.

Security and Intelligence Agencies

John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister if he plans to change the departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limits for 200102 for the security and intelligence agencies.

Tony Blair: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the departmental expenditure limit (DEL) for the Security and Intelligence Agencies will be increased by 7,521,000 from 891,833,000 to 899,354,000 and the administration cost limit will be increased by 5,505,000 from 441,954,000 t 447,459,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Resources  
			 Change 3,945,000 
			 New DEL 783,229,000 
			 Of which:  
			 Voted 783,229,000 
			 Non-voted  
			   
			 Capital  
			 Change 3,576,000 
			 New DEL 116,903,000 
			 Of which:  
			 Voted 116,903,000 
			 Non-voted  
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from:
	1. 49,449,000 for further counter-terrorism work drawn from the Reserve;
	2. a PES transfer of 106,000 from the Treasury Solicitor's Department;
	3. a transfer of 700,000 from Capital;
	4. the take up of End of Year Flexibility (EYF) carried forward from 200102 of 1,800,000;
	5. a reduction of 48,000,000 due to a revised forecast;
	6. a decrease of 105,000 to reflect the latest property/land values
	7. a decrease of 5,000 to cover Loss on Sale.
	The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from 4,276,000 for further counter-terrorism work drawn from the Reserve and 700,000 transferred to Resource DEL.
	The increases will be offset by inter-departmental transfers, the take up of DEL EYF and extra funding from the Reserve.

British Companies

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the Government's definition of a British company is;
	(2)  on what basis he decided that LNM Holdings was a British company;
	(3)  on what criteria he judged the LNM group to be British;
	(4)  what his policy is on congratulating foreign Governments on granting contracts to companies with British connections;
	(5)  on how many occasions in the past year he has written to his European counterparts regarding the awarding of contracts to companies with British interests;
	(6)  what criteria he uses to decide whether an attempted overseas acquisition by an individual or company seeking assistance from him would be in the national interest; and what process of assessment takes place against these criteria;
	(7)  if he will list the (a) individuals and (b) companies since 1997 which have received assistance from himself and his Office in attempts to acquire assets overseas.

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will publish the text of his letter to the Prime Minister of Romania about the sale of that country's steel company, Sidex; and when the text was made available to LNM Holdings;
	(2)  if he will list the letters he has written in the last 12 months to foreign Governments following British companies winning business abroad, stating in each case (a) the Government concerned, (b) the name of the British company, (c) the place of registration of the company, (d) the nature of the contract, (e) the date the contract in question was signed and (f) the date the letter was sent;
	(3)  (a) by whom and (b) when he was informed that a contract had been awarded by the Government of Romania to privatise Sidex.

Tony Blair: There is no formal legal definition of a British company.
	Each case is considered on its merits in terms of the overall potential benefit to UK business and to the UK economy. A number of factors will be relevant in considering this including whether the company is incorporated or registered in Britain, whether the company has a UK address, whether a company is UK controlled or owned, whether it employs people in the UK, whether it has a UK manufactured product or service, and whether there are wider benefits for the UK, in terms of increased access to overseas markets, increased employment or increased competitiveness.
	The LNM Group is a global organisation with a headquarters in London, which includes UK registered companies and which employs people in the UK. London and the UK benefit from the location of groups such as LNM here which reflect its position as a global centre for business.
	As I have made clear I signed the letter on the advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the ambassador in Bucharest. The decision to award the contract had already been made when I signed the letter, as the text of the letter made clear. This letter is already in the public domain. With the agreement of the Romanian Government, this letter was read out at the signing ceremony in Bucharest on 25 July 2001.
	There was nothing extraordinary about my letter to the Romanian Government. I have written regularly to other leaders concerning contracts in which there is a British commercial interest. I have also lobbied fellow leaders in person and over the telephone on behalf of British business. Ministers in successive Governments have fought for British interests abroad and I regard this as an important part of my job.
	It is not normal practice to release letters from the Prime Minister to another Head of Government under exemption 1(b) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Exemption 13 of the Code also applies with regard to commercial confidentiality.

British Companies

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what recent representations the Government have made to the European Union regarding the impact of enlargement of the European Union on the British steel industry;
	(2)  what representations the Government have made to the Romanian Government regarding the steel industry since January 2001;
	(3)  what recent representations the Government have made to the European Union regarding acceptability of Romania for accession to the European Union;
	(4)  on what criteria he suggested to the Romanian Prime Minister on 23 July 2001 that the acquisition of the sidex steel plant by the LNM group would assist Romania's membership to the European Union;
	(5)  what communication the Government have had with Governments of other EU member states regarding the privatisation of the Romanian state-owned steel industry.

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  when (a) he and (b) his staff have met representatives of the Government of Romania to discuss that country's accession to the European Union;
	(2)  what effect he estimates there will be on the UK from the sale of Sidex to LNM Holdings;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of how the sale of Sidex to a British company will assist Romania's admission to the European Union.

Tony Blair: UK support for Romanian EU accession, once Romania fulfils the conditions for membership, has long been on the record. It is our firm view that enlargement of the EU will be of economic and political benefit to existing members and candidate countries.
	Together with our European partners, we have encouraged the Romanian Government to complete the privatisation of the Romanian steel industry as part of the process of creating a fully-functioning market economy, one of the fundamental criteria for Romania's EU accession.
	We have consistently supported the interests of British business in the EU enlargement process, including those of the British steel industry, through the relevant EU fora.
	The sale of Sidex strengthens UK/Romania relations. It sends a strong positive signal to investors and businessman in Britain about market liberalisation and investment opportunities in Romania. The UK has strong interest in steps that help towards the reconstruction of the Romanian economy and towards its membership of the European Union. Privatisation of its steel industry through the sale of Sidex is an important element in its economic reform which will help to establish a level playing field between EU and Romanian steel producers and should lead to a reduction in levels of state subsidies which disadvantage UK steel producers. the privatisation did not threaten British jobs.
	I met the previous Romanian President, Emil Constantinescu, in Strasbourg in October 1997, during my visit to Bucharest in May 1999 and in London in February 2000. During my visit to Bucharest in May 1999 I also met the then Prime Minister Radu Vasile, and I met the current Prime Minister Adrian Nastase during his official visit in November 2001. On each occasion I emphasised my support for Romanian EU accession.

Visits

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost was to Her Majesty's Treasury of the Romanian Prime Minister's visit to the UK in November 2001.

Tony Blair: The Romanian Prime Minister visited London under our Guest of Government visit scheme. As is normal on such occasions, the Government met the costs of accommodation, some official entertainment and some travel within the UK for the official party.
	The cost to the Government of the visit was 26,813.37.

PIU Energy Review

John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister when the performance and innovation unit's energy review will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The performance and innovation unit's energy review is published today. Copies of the report will be available in the Libraries of the House.
	The energy review considers the long-term issues in energy policyensuring that GB will have secure, competitive and affordable energy, while at the same time addressing the likely requirements of a low carbon economy.
	The report examines the main trends in energy markets and reviews the key choices facing policy makers including when decisions need to be taken and how to keep options open, so policy remains relevant to changing circumstances.
	While this report is not a statement of Government policy, it raises a broad range of issues that are important to the future evolution of energy policy. The Government intend to set in process a period of public consultation, leading to an energy White Paper in the autumn.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Decisions by Statute

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many decisions by statute she has made since taking office.

Rosie Winterton: In common with all Government Ministers, the Lord Chancellor and his ministerial colleagues in the Lord Chancellor's Department make a large number of decisions under statutory authority in the normal course of their duties. To identify every such decision would be possible only at disproportionate cost.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the instances in which his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies failed to pay valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period in the financial year 200001.

Michael Wills: All Government Departments and their agencies are required to pay all undisputed bills within 30 days of receipt of the goods or services or receipt of a valid invoice, whichever is the later (or other agreed payment period). Since 1993 all Government Departments and agencies have been required to monitor their payment performance and the figures are published annually in the form of a written PQ. Figures for 200001 were published on 19 July 2001.
	During the financial year 200001 the Lord Chancellor's Department (LCD) incorporating the Court Service (CS), Northern Ireland Court Service (NICS), Land Registry (LR), Public Guardianship Office (PGO) and Public Record Office (PRO) paid a total of 256,668 invoices. Of this total 15,717 (6.12 per cent.) were paid beyond agreed credit terms. These figures are broken down as follows.
	
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 LCD   
			 Invoices paid 43,194  
			 Paid late 1,043 2.4 
			
			 CS   
			 Invoices paid 144,034  
			 Paid late 8,904 6.2 
			
			 NICS   
			 Invoices paid 16,844  
			 Paid late 838 4.97 
			
			 LR   
			 Invoices paid 31,240  
			 Paid late 156 0.5 
			
			 PGO   
			 Invoices paid 12,358  
			 Paid late 4,704 38.06 
			
			 PRO   
			 Invoices paid 8,998  
			 Paid late 72 0.8 
		
	
	No central records are kept detailing the reason for late payment of each individual invoice. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	This was the first year that LCD and CS have been in a position to report against all invoices paid rather than the practice in previous years of reporting against a sample of 1,200. A number of steps have been taken subsequently to improve payment performance. Following a successful pilot of the Government Procurement Card plans are in place to extend its use throughout the CS during 2002 and thereafter to other areas of LCD and its agencies. This will reduce the volume of individual payments and streamline the authorisation and payment process. The purchase order system is being used far more extensively and in new areas of the Department and this should also help to improve performance. There are signs that these changes have already had some impact as monitoring of this year's payments show that performance for LCD and CS has increased to over 96 per cent.
	During 200001 the PGO experienced major changes which increased greatly their invoice activity. They also introduced steps to ensure payment performance improved. Changes to the finance management team, the purchase ordering process and increased monitoring of payments have reduced the risk of payment delay. Monitoring of the earlier part of 200102 showed that performance had increased to 71 per cent. The second half to date shows that 98 per cent. of invoices are paid within agreed credit terms.
	The NICS has introduced a number of steps to improve performance. These include establishing a user group to encourage best practice in local offices and increase awareness for staff involved in processing payments. They have also redefined their end of year procedures. Although figures for this financial year (200102) show that their performance has decreased slightly to 93.5 per cent. the measures introduced should start making an impact in the financial year 200203.

Possession Orders

David Atkinson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if county courts will sit on bank holidays and other holiday periods in response to an application by a local authority for a possession order; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: In order to cater for incidents that may require the attention of a judge, including applications for urgent possession orders, out of normal office hours, on bank holidays and other holiday periods, the Court Service provides a system known as the Urgent Court Business Scheme. This scheme allows for an experienced member of court staff to be contacted during the night, weekends or public holidays. Every circuit has arrangements in place for handling urgent court business outside normal office hours. Urgent business consists of Injunctions, Children Act applications, and other urgent applications such as Possession order applications. Cover is provided between 4.00 pm and 8.30 pm each weekday, between 4.00 pm on Friday until 8.30 am on Monday for each weekend and from 4.00 pm on the last day preceding a public or privilege holiday that the court is open until 8.30 am on the day the court is next open. There will always be a judge available in each UCBO area to deal with urgent court business. In the vast majority of cases the judge will deal with matters over the telephone. Only in the most extreme case should the judge have to meet with the applicant's solicitor. Where this is unavoidable the venue will be arranged by the UCBO in consultation with the judge and the solicitor involved.

Records (Ireland)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the outcome was of the reassessment in 2000 of the three records dating from 1876 to 1914 concerning activities of the Secret Service in Ireland and Irish terrorist organisations which were being withheld from public disclosure; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The files were reviewed by the Home Office in conjunction with the Security Service. One file has been released in full, one has been released except for some extracts and one is still withheld. The information that has not been released could be used to identify individuals working for or giving information to the intelligence services.

Records

Harry Cohen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which Departments and agencies have (a) applied for extended closure of records and (b) applied to the Lord Chancellor for permission to retain records over 30 years; how many applications were made in each category and how many were granted; if she will list by title each record retained in this way; and what arrangements there are for their review for public disclosure.

Rosie Winterton: The tables show for 2001, the most recent complete year, by Department, the number of applications for extended closure (Table A) or retention (Table B) and the number approved. An application can cover anything from a small extract from a page in a file to a large collection of records. Three formal applications were rejected.
	The full lists of all public records subject to extended closure and retention are kept at the Public Record Office at Kew and are freely available for public inspection there.
	More precise details can be found for most of the records that are subject to extended closure or retention by consulting the PRO online catalogue (http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/). For records not yet transferred to the PRO, the Department holding the records has these details rather than the PRO.
	Permission for retention or extended closure is given for a precise finite period. It is the responsibility of Departmental Record Officers to ensure that the records are re-reviewed, and of the Records Management Department of the PRO to supervise this process.
	Researchers who require access to records held by the PRO and catalogued as closed, or to historical records still held by Departments, should first ask the PRO to check their status. If the records are closed or retained, researchers can apply for a review of access restrictions. They should write to the Departmental Record Officer of the Department that created the records (or its successor) quoting the PRO reference where this is known. Such requests are handled in the order in which they are received except where the information is urgently required for legal purposes.
	
		Table A: Applications for extended closure of public records in 2001
		
			 Department Number of applications Number of applications granted 
		
		
			 Cabinet Office 13 13 
			 The Court Service 313 313 
			 Crown Prosecution Service 3 3 
			 Ministry of Defence 13 13 
			 Department for Education and Skills 1 1 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 104 101 
			 Department of Health 16 16 
			 Home Office 11 11 
			 Department for International Development 5 5 
			 Legal Services Commission(England and Wales) 30 30 
			 Lord Chancellor's Department 1 1 
			 Metropolitan Police Office 17 17 
			 Prime Minister's Office 10 10 
			 Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions(40) 1 1 
			 HM Treasury 1 1 
			 Department for Work and Pensions 8 8 
			 United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority 1 1 
		
	
	(40) Formerly Department of Social Security
	
		Table B: Applications for retention of public records in 2001
		
			 Department Number of applications Number of applications granted 
		
		
			 Cabinet Office 15 15 
			 HM Customs and Excise 1 1 
			 Ministry of Defence 19 19 
			 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs(41) 4 4 
			 English Partnerships 1 1 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 38 38 
			 Forestry Commission 1 1 
			 Home Office 4 4 
			 Department for International Development 2 2 
			 Legal Services Commission (England and Wales) 1 1 
			 Metropolitan Police Office 2 2 
			 National Weights and Measures Laboratory 1 1 
			 Northern Ireland Office 1 1 
			 Office for National Statistics 2 2 
			 Prime Minister's Office 4 4 
			 Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions(42) 3 3 
			 HM Treasury 21 21 
			 United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority 7 7 
		
	
	(41) Formerly Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
	(42) Formerly Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Judicial Appointments Commission

Dave Watts: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations she has received advocating a judicial appointments commission; and if she will place copies in the Library.

Rosie Winterton: Following a recommendation made by Sir Leonard Peach, the Lord Chancellor has already established a commission for judicial appointments to oversee the appointments process.
	During his period of office the Lord Chancellor has received representations proposing the establishment of a judicial appointments commission with more than supervisory functions over the existing appointments system, from the following organisations:
	the Law Society of England and Wales;
	Doncaster and District Law Society:
	the Association of Women Barristers;
	the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers; and
	a number of private individuals.
	Copies of the relevant material from the organisations will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Criminal Justice System Reports

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the reports produced by the Lord Chancellor's Department which relate to the criminal justice system since 1978.

Michael Wills: The information requested is not held centrally within the Lord Chancellor's Department and can be supplied only at disproportionate cost. However, research reports relating to the criminal justice system that have been commissioned and published by LCD Research Secretariat since it was established in 1996 are listed:
	February 2000Factors affecting the decision to apply for silk and judicial office, K. Malleson and F. Banda.
	March 2000The effects on magistrates of learning that the defendant has a previous conviction, S. Lloyd-Bostock.
	April 1999Reducing delay in the criminal justice system: the views of defence lawyers, L. Bridges and M. Jacobs.
	May 1999An empirical analysis of standard fees in magistrates' court criminal cases, A. Gray, P. Fenn and N. Rickman.
	February 1997Delay in the criminal justice system, S. Choongh.
	June 1997Judicial appointments commissions: the European and North American experience and the possible implications for the United Kingdom, C. Thomas and K. Malleson.
	September 1997Expenditure on legal services, M. Hope, LCD economist (review paper).
	November 1997Ethnic monitoring of defendants appearing at Leicester magistrates' court in 1995, Home Office and Professor Philip Bean.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Sex Offenders

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will require sex offenders convicted overseas to sign the sex offenders register when they live in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: We are keen to do all we can to protect the public, especially children, from sex offenders. Sex offenders whose offences were committed overseas and who act in a way that gives the police reason to believe they pose a risk to the public can be made subject to a sex offender order, which will require them to comply with the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 (the register) and can impose restrictions on their behaviour. They can also be the subject of a Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel which will form a plan to manage the risks they pose.
	We were aware of this issue when we announced the review of Part I of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 and it was discussed with relevant agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) during the review.
	That discussion is reflected in the consultation paper, which was published in July 2001. The review concluded there is no mechanism by which offenders convicted overseas could reliably be made aware of a duty to register with the police when coming to the United Kingdom. the review therefore proposes that where the police become aware of the arrival or presence in the United Kingdom of a sex offender convicted overseas of offences equivalent to those in the United Kingdom that trigger registration, they should be able to apply to the courts for an Order to Register as a Sex Offender. We are currently analysing responses to the review.
	We know of only four countries which have a register of sex offenders and only one which currently requires sex offenders from abroad to register with the police.

Smallpox

Robert Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Health about contingency measures to be introduced in the event of a smallpox outbreak.

David Blunkett: holding answer 5 February 2002
	Home Office and Department of Health officials have regular meetings to ensure cross-Government preparedness for responding to a deliberate chemical/ biological release. This work includes arrangements for responding to a smallpox outbreak.
	Bilateral arrangements with the United States assist us in ensuring preparation for and stocks of vaccine to contain any such eventuality.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in the Greater London area in the last 12 months.

John Denham: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall) on 1 February 2002, Official Report, column 576W.

Football-related Offences

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women have been convicted of football-related offences in England and Wales in each of the last three years.

John Denham: The data requested are not available.

Football-related Offences

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to reduce incidents of crowd-related violence at football matches.

John Denham: An extensive array of legislation is in place for tackling football-related disorder. The Government expect the police and courts to make full use of the powers that have been placed at their disposal. The Government work with the police and football authorities in order to ensure that offenders are identified and prosecuted.

Tobacco Sales (Children)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many shopkeepers have been prosecuted for selling tobacco to under-aged children in each of the last three years.

John Denham: 166 defendants were proceeded against in England and Wales in 1998 for selling tobacco, etc. to persons under 16. Figures for 1999 and 2000 1 were 127 and 161 respectively. Figures for 2001 will be available in the autumn.
	1 The 2000 figure excludes cases in Staffordshire as Staffordshire police force were only able to supply a sample of data for magistrates courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust at a detailed level and so are excluded from the total.

Criminal Statistics (Terminology)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition is used for a female defective in the Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1999.

John Denham: The term 'female defective' is mentioned three times in the 'Criminal statistics, England and Wales' as follows:
	(i) Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who is a defective. (Sexual Offences Act 1956, Sec 7 (as amended by the Mental Health Act 1959)).
	(ii) Procuring, permitting or causing the prostitution etc. of a female defective. (Sexual Offence Act 1956, Secs 9, 27 and 29).
	(iii) Abduction of female defective. (Sexual Offences Act 1956, Sec 32).
	and is part of the definition of the offences referred to.
	It is defined by the Sexual Offences Act 1956, Sec 45, as substituted by Mental Health Act 1959, Sec 127(1) and amended by the Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1982, Sch 3, as follows:
	In this Act 'defective' means a person suffering from a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning'.
	The report of the Sex Offences review (set in the boundaries: reforming the law on sex offences) argued that it was 'a demeaning derogatory term' suggested changing the word to
	'a person with severe mental incapacity'. in future legislation.
	The Government are considering their response to the review.

Correspondence

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the security services concerning a case, details of which have been supplied to him in a letter dated 1 February; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: I have received a letter from my hon. Friend to which I have responded today.
	It is not Government policy to discuss individual cases. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 350W.

Police Numbers

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police there (a) were on 1 January and (b) will be on 1 January 2003 in (i) England and Wales and (ii) North Yorkshire.

John Denham: Police numbers are collected twice a year in March and September. There were 127,231 officers in England and Wales on 30 September 2001. The Home Secretary has set a target for overall police strength in England and Wales to reach 130,000 by the spring of 2003.
	North Yorkshire police had 1,390 officers on 30 September 2001. I understand from the chief constable that on 1 January the force had 1,391 officers and that the projected strength for North Yorkshire police for March 2003 is 1,425 officers.

Police Numbers

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in post in Leicestershire Police Authority in (a) each year between 199697 and (b) the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The information requested is set out in the table.
	
		
			 Year(43) Police officers Civilian support staff 
		
		
			 1996 1,908 667 
			 1997 1,949 755 
			 1998 1,983 774 
			 1999 1,993 802 
			 2000 1,993 805 
			 2001 2,033 806 
		
	
	(43) As at 31 March
	Leicestershire Constabulary had a record number of officers at the end of September 2001, at 2,062.

Metropolitan Police Accommodation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many units of police accommodation were (a) sold, (b) put up for sale and (c) withdrawn from sale in each of the last 10 years by the Metropolitan police.

John Denham: I understand from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner that the information requested is readily available for the last five years only. This is shown in the table.
	
		
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			  Residential Quarters   
			 Sold 77 138 265 151 110 
			 For Sale 387 535 583 360 149 
			 Withdrawn 56 219 141 139 3 
			   
			  Section Houses   
			 Sold 0 2 3 2 0 
			 For Sale 3 7 6 4 1 
			 Withdrawn 0 0 0 1 0 
			   
			  Operational Estate   
			 Sold 7 8 11 8 2 
			 For Sale 39 47 36 38 29 
			 Withdrawn 6 6 3 1 5 
		
	
	Notes:
	The figures record each occasion a property has been offered for sale or withdrawn from the market. Properties that remained on the market for a year or more will appear in more than one annual total of properties for sale. The operational estate refers to buildings not tracts of land.

Police Salaries

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 686W, in what format the information was available.

John Denham: There are separate national salary scales for each rank in the police service. How much police officers earn depends on their rank, their length of service in the rank and whether they are entitled to premium rates of pay and to allowances in addition to basic salary.
	The Home Office does not hold data on housing costs either by force area or by region.

Golden Jubilee

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will meet additional policing costs arising from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee.

John Denham: Where it can be demonstrated there are exceptional additional costs which could not be met from within existing budgets, it is open to forces to apply for a special grant.

Criminal Records Bureau

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if a volunteer who receives expenses will be eligible for exemption from charging for disclosure certificates from the Criminal Records Bureau;
	(2)  what the definition is of a volunteer in the exemptions from charging for disclosure certificates from the Criminal Records Bureau.

John Denham: Under the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) Regulations 2002, which were laid before Parliament on 7 February 2002, higher-level disclosures will be issued free of charge to a volunteer, which is defined in the regulations as
	a person engaged in an activity which involves spending time, unpaid (except for travel and other approved out-of-pocket expenses), doing something which aims to benefit some third party other than or in addition to a close relative.

Youth Inclusion

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the areas in London where youth inclusion projects will be operational by March; and what resources will be allocated to each.

John Denham: The Youth Justice Board managed Youth Inclusion Programme has a total of 70 projects in operation across the country. The programme has been at full operational capacity since March 2001. Of these, 13 are operating in London.
	Each project receives annually 75,000 from local partnerships and 75,000 from the Youth Justice Board.
	The areas in London where Youth Inclusion projects are operational are listed in the table:
	
		Areas in London with Youth Inclusion projects
		
			 Neighbourhood Area 
		
		
			 Gascoigne and Barking Roding Valley Barking and Dagenham 
			 Church End estate Brent 
			 Castlehaven Camden 
			 Page estate Greenwich 
			 Woodbury Down Hackney 
			 North Fulham neighbourhood Hammersmith and Fulham 
			 Tottenham and Wood Green Haringey 
			 Holloway and Tollington Islington 
			 Dalgarno Kensington and Chelsea 
			 Clapham Park estate Lambeth 
			 Forest Gate Newham 
			 Lawson, Rockingham, Heygate and Draper estates Southwark 
			 Alton estate Wandsworth

Arrests and Detentions

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested and detained in police custody in England and Wales in 1999.

Beverley Hughes: In the financial year 19992000 an estimated 1,277,900 persons were arrested for notifiable offences within England and Wales.

Prisons

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the prison budget for England and Wales has been in each of the last 10 years.

Beverley Hughes: The table sets out the total net cash expenditure (current and capital) for the Prison Service for the 10 financial years 199192 to 200001.
	The budget for 200102 is in resource accounting and budgeting terms. The present voted provision, as set out in the Home Office's Winter Supplementary Estimate, includes net Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) funding of 1,739.6 million (including 114.9 million funding from the Youth Justice Board for juvenile places and 46 million from the Department for Education and Skills for prisoners' education costs other than for juveniles); net Capital DEL funding of 218.8 million (including 61.8 million non-cash funding for the capitalisation of Dovegate prison under the Private Finance Initiative; 73.9 million funding for other spending outside of DEL; and 426.6 million net Annually Managed Expenditure (including 15.7 million funding from the Youth Justice Board).
	
		Prison service net expenditure 199091 to 200001 --  million
		
			 Financial year Current Capital Total 
		
		
			 199091 887.7 453.8 1,341.5 
			 199192 1,049.5 412.6 1,462.1 
			 199293 1,138.4 331.9 1,470.3 
			 199394 1,223.7 285.1 1,508.8 
			 199495 1,279.6 318.3 1,597.9 
			 199596 1,336.7 330.2 1,666.9 
			 199697 1,388.5 220.1 1,608.6 
			 199798 1,462.9 277.9 1,740.8 
			 199899 1,611.7 200.4 1,812.1 
			 19992000 1,696.8 149.6 1,846.4 
			 200001 1,659.5 135.2 1,794.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	The decrease in capital expenditure from 199697 follows the completion of a programme for major capital works. In recent years new prisons have been provided through Private Finance Initiative funding.
	In 20001 payments of 123.8 million for juvenile places were made by the Youth Justice Board with a resultant decrease in the net operating costs of the Prison Service.

Prisons

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with officials of the Prison Officers Association; and what issues were discussed.

Beverley Hughes: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I met most recently with representatives of the Prison Officers Association (POA) on Thursday 7 February 2002 to discuss the recommendations of the Prison Service Pay Review Body and the Government's response to it.
	The Home Secretary explained that, while the 6 per cent. recommended was not affordable in full from 1 January 2002 without severe implications for Prison Service regimes, he had none the less wanted to respond to the recommendations positively in a way that recognised the value of the staff in the remit group.
	To this end, he had implemented the awards in full within the period covered by the recommendations. In staging the 6 per cent, he had front-loaded the first stage from 1 January 2002 to ensure an immediate pay rise commensurate with that awarded to other public sector groups for the year. In addition, prison officers would receive the further 2.5 per cent. in January 2003. Finally the locality payments for officers in London and south-east, the areas most hard pressed by recruitment and retention problems, would increase by the full 6 per cent. from 1 January 2002.

C-Far, Okehampton

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken by his Department to provide funding for C-Far in Okehampton, Devon; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: A payment of 150,000 from the Criminal Justice System Reserve for 200102 has been approved as a contribution to the continuing costs of the C-Far Life Change programme and will be paid before the end of March. C-Far have also made an application for a further 1.9 million from the Criminal Justice System Reserve in 200203. A decision on this application has been deferred pending receipt of an interim evaluation report from C-Far and resolution of outstanding concerns regarding a full, independent assessment of the programme's effectiveness in reducing re-offending. The national probation service and the Prison Service jointly have set aside 20,000 to assist with the cost of such an independent evaluation.

Prisoners (Mental Health)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of prisoners are suffering from a psychotic illness;
	(2)  what proportion of prisoners developed (a) a mental health problem and (b) a psychotic illness while in custody in the last 12 months;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of prisoners are known to have a mental health problem.

Beverley Hughes: A survey of mental ill health in the prison population of England and Wales, undertaken in 1997 by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed that some 10 per cent. of remanded men, 7 per cent. of sentenced men and 14 per cent. of all women prisoners had suffered from a functional psychosis in the past year. Applying these rates to the current population would indicate that, on any one day, there would be around 5,300 prisoners in custody who would have suffered from symptoms of a functional psychosis in the previous year.
	The ONS survey also reported that only one in 10 prisoners or fewer showed no evidence of any of the five disorders considered in the survey (personality disorder, psychosis, neurosis, alcohol misuse, and drug dependence). That would indicate that, at any one time, upwards of 60,000 prisoners would have a mental health problem of some kind.
	The information currently available from research studies does not allow us to form an assessment of the proportion of prisoners who may have developed a mental health problem or psychotic illness while in custody.

Videos (Legislation)

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if the Government will bring forward legislation to establish the Video Appeals Committee as a statutory body;
	(2)  if the Government will bring forward legislation to make it an offence (a) to show a Restricted 18 video to a child and (b) to allow a child to view such a video.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	Responsibility for taking forward these and other issues raised in the Government's consultation paper on R18 videos passed from the Home Office to this Department last year. We are assessing the responses to the consultation and will produce our response as soon as possible.

BBFC Guidelines

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will require the British Board of Film Classification to submit its classification guidelines for parliamentary approval.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	The BBFC is an independent body, and it would not be appropriate to submit its guidelineswhich were subject to public consultationfor parliamentary approval.

Prison Escorts (Tachographs)

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what safeguards are in place to ensure that prison custody officers employed to drive prison cellular escort vehicles do not drive for longer than would be the case if they were driving other similar size vehicles covered by the tachograph regulations;
	(2)  what vehicles used by companies involved in the Home Office Prison Court and Escort contracts to escort prisoners to and from courts and between prisons are exempt from tachograph regulations;
	(3)  if he will introduce tachograph regulations to cover cellular vehicles used to carry prisoners on escort.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	The fitting and use of tachographs is governed by European Union (EU) Regulations. Passenger carrying vehicles with fewer than 17 seats are exempt. Prison escort vehicles with between 10 and 17 seats are subject to the separate UK domestic drivers' hours legislation which sets maximum driving and duty limits.
	The European Commission has put forward a proposal to change the existing EU Regulation, including the possible removal of the exemption for passenger vehicles with between 10 and 17 seats. The UK Government are currently consulting on this proposal. Any change to the existing EU law will require the agreement of the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.
	Escort contractors are expected to comply with all relevant provisions of Road Traffic Legislation in respect of drivers' hours and to maintain, and produce, for inspection by the appropriate authorities, such records as are required.

Criminal Justice System Business Plan

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the criminal justice system business plan for 200203.

David Blunkett: My noble and learned Friends the Attorney-General, the Lord Chancellor and I will today be publishing a Business Plan for the criminal justice system for England and Wales.
	The plan describes the priorities for the coming year which the Government expect the criminal justice system as a whole to work to deliver.
	Copies of the plan will be placed in the Library.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will commission and publish an independent report on the reasons for the level of sickness absence in her Department.

Helen Liddell: The Cabinet Office already commissions and publishes an independent annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service. This report includes details of the causes of absenteeism. The report for the year 2000 will be published shortly.

Departmental Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many days were lost due to sickness absence in the Department in each of the last four years.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999 and staff numbers have increased since that date.
	Details of the number of days lost to sickness absence are shown in the table:
	
		
			  Number of days 
		
		
			 1 July 199931 December 1999(44) 299 
			 2000 442.5 
			 2001 to 1 November 2001(44) 727.5 
		
	
	(44) Part year

Departmental Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she expects to reply to the Question of 5 December, ref. 21264, from the hon. Member for Buckingham on sickness absence.

Helen Liddell: I replied to the hon. Member today.

Remuneration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will estimate the number of individuals in her (a) Department, (b) related agencies and (c) related non- departmental public bodies whose annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeded (i) 100,000 and (ii) 200,000 in each of the last four years.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. My Department has one member of staff whose total remuneration exceeded 100,000 in 200001. No individuals have had annual remuneration in excess of 200,000.

Public Relations Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent by (a) his Department and (b) bodies for which it is responsible on external public relations consultants in each of the last four years.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. The Department has had no expenditure on external public relations consultants.

Theft and Fraud

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in each of the last four years.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	In 19992000 the cost of theft to the Department was estimated at 2,200. In 200001, the Department had no cases of theft or fraud reported.

Theft and Fraud

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional security measures are planned by her Department to deter and detect theft and fraud.

Helen Liddell: A wide range of security measures are in place to deter and detect theft and fraud. These are kept under review and additional measures are put in place as appropriate.

Theft and Fraud

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate her Department has made of the cost to its budget since 1 May 1997 of fraud; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. No cases of fraud have been reported since that date.

Market Research

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what expenditure has been incurred by her (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in each of the last four years on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; and if she will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	My Department has not incurred any expenditure on opinion polling, focus groups or other forms of market research.

Lost/Stolen Property

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list those items valued at more than 50 which have been stolen or lost from her Department in each of the last four years.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	Since that date one laptop computer has been stolen. No items have been reported as lost.

Lost/Stolen Property

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list those items valued at less than 50 each which have been stolen or lost from her Department in each of the last four years.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	No items valued at less than 50 have been reported lost or stolen in my Department.

Refurbishment

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her estimate is of the cost of buildings refurbishment carried out by her Department in each of the last four years.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	The Department spent 150,354 on building refurbishment work in 19992000. No refurbishment work was carried out in 200001.

Empty Properties

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) her Department, (ii) her agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which she has had responsibility in each of the last four years.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	The Department has had no empty properties.

Private Finance Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total external spend by her Department was on Private Finance Initiative consultants in each of the last four years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by her Department over this period; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	My Department has had no expenditure on Private Finance Initiative consultants.

Contracts (KPMG)

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contracts her Department has with KPMG; and what the value is of each one.

Helen Liddell: My Department has no contacts with KPMG.

Departmental Leave Entitlements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average annual leave entitlement of staff in her Department in each of the last four years.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	The average annual leave entitlement of staff in my Department outside the senior civil service was 27.5 days for 19992000, 26.7 days for 200001 and 26.5 days for 200102 to date.
	The annual leave entitlement for members of the senior civil service is currently set by the Cabinet Office at 30 days and has been so for the last four years.

Secondments

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff were seconded between (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and her Department in (i) 19992000, (ii) 200001 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Helen Liddell: No staff have been seconded to my Department by any of the companies listed.

Secondments

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff were seconded between (a) PWC Consulting and PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Ernst and Young, (c) Deloitte  Touche, (d) KPMG and (e) Andersen and her Department in (i) 19992000, (ii) 200001 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Helen Liddell: No staff have been seconded to my Department by any of the companies listed.

Consultancy Contracts

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts were let by her Department and agencies for which she is responsible to (a) PWC Consulting or PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Ernst and Young, (c) Deloitte Touche, (d) KPMG and (e) Andersen for consultancy services for the financial years (i) 199798, (ii) 199899, (iii) 19992000, (iv) 200001 and (v) 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available, indicating the remuneration in each case.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. No contracts have been let by my Department to any of the companies mentioned.

Accountancy Contracts

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will publish the (a) number and (b) value of contracts awarded by her Department to (i) Arthur Andersen, (ii) Deloitte  Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iv) KPMG and (v) PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants in each year since 1997.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. No contracts have been awarded by my Department to any of the companies listed.

Scottish Parliament

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  what discussions she has recently had on the Scottish Parliament's powers to confer devolved functions on UK bodies; who was present; and if she will make a statement on the conclusions of such meetings;
	(2)  if she will publish the agenda for and list the location of recent meetings she has been involved in to discuss the Scottish Parliament's powers to confer devolved functions on UK bodies; and from which Department supporting officials were provided.

Helen Liddell: Information relating to internal discussion and advice is not disclosed under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Unclaimed Benefits

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the Government's policy is on unclaimed benefits among the elderly in Scotland.

George Foulkes: The Government are committed to ensuring that elderly people eligible for benefits achieve their legal entitlement and that the poorest among our pensioners have a guaranteed minimum income. The minimum income guarantee (MIG) is paid to around 181,000 claimants aged 60 or over in Scotland.
	In May 2000 we launched a national take-up campaign writing to 2 million pensioners across the UK, informing them about MIG. Since October last year, callers to the Retirement Pension Telecentre, who are not in receipt of MIG but identified as possible claimants, have been encouraged to claim. Pensioners claiming retirement pension by post are sent a MIG leaflet.
	We are looking at options to prompt automatically the issue of a claim for MIG following certain key life events, for example when a pensioner reaches age 75 or 80 or when another benefit is awarded. We are also working in partnership with organisations for older people to improve access to benefits and take-up of the MIG. This includes projects on a national good practice guide and a survey of local take-up initiatives.

Friends of Scotland

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Friends of Scotland have been recruited to date; what has been the cost of that project to date; and what its budget is for 2002.

Helen Liddell: holding answer 12 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 15 January 2002, Official Report, column 169W.
	The costs of this programme are being met from within the existing resources of the Scotland Office, together with private sponsorship for the Scottish banquet on 28 November 2001. It is not possible to quantify the cost of staff time spent on this programme this year.
	My officials and I are in discussion with interested parties, including the Scottish Executive, about the further development of the initiative. These discussions will inform decisions about the allocation of resources.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

Lost/Stolen Property

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council if he will list those items valued at less than 50 each which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years.

Robin Cook: No items have been stolen or lost from my Department during the period mentioned. More detailed information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Publications

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council if he will list the publications issued by his Department in each of the last four years; and what the (a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) purpose of each was.

Robin Cook: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the President of the Council how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Robin Cook: No such cases have been reported in my Department. My Department recognises that it is obliged by law to provide a safe working environment for employees. It is committed to meeting targets for reducing the number of working days lost generally owing to work related injuries and illnesses arising from the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the President of the Council how many people are employed in his Department on a job share contract; and what percentage of vacant positions was advertised on this basis in the last 12 months.

Robin Cook: No-one is currently employed in my Department on a job-share basis. No vacant positions have been advertised on this basis in the last 12 months, although an application on a job-share basis would always be considered.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the President of the Council what assessment has been made of the effect of the working time directive on his office's employees; how many employees are working in excess of 48 hours per week; what steps he is taking to reduce this number; and if he will make a statement.

Robin Cook: In my Department, the working time directive has implications chiefly for employees working directly in support of Ministers. Six private office staff have signed agreements enabling them to work in excess or 48 hours per week; this compares with 14 such staff a year ago. I have recently restructured my office so as to increase the level of clerical support, and this has reduced somewhat the average number of hours worked by private secretaries. Much long hours' working arises from the need to provide support for me in my responsibilities as Leader of the House. Any decision by the House to reform its own working arrangements would be likely to have a positive impact on the working hours of the staff concerned. The working arrangements in my office and in my Department generally are constantly under review. My Department is committed to keeping long hours working to an absolute minimum commensurate with operational needs, and to promoting a proper work/life balance for its employees.

Industrial Action

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council how many days have been lost owing to industrial action by staff in his Department in each of the last four years.

Robin Cook: None.

WORK AND PENSIONS

IT Investment

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the budget for modernising the delivery of the social security system will be spent on (a) the Payment Modernisation Programme, (b) the New IT for the Child Support Agency, (c) new front end systems, (d) replacement of legacy systems, (d) improvements to management information, (e) PCs for all staff, (f) modernising services to pensioners, including preparation for the pension credit and (g) his Department's work on (i) the working tax credit and (ii) the child tax credit.

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 12 December 2001, Official Report, column 899W, on the 2001 Departmental report, how much and what proportion of the Welfare Modernisation Fund money has been allocated to specific projects.

Ian McCartney: Available information can be found in the document 'Department for work and pensions: approach to IT investment', a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

Jobcentre Plus

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the safety of staff in jobcentres.

Nick Brown: holding answer 4 February 2002
	Regular health and safety risk assessments and safety inspections are conducted to ensure the safety of staff in Jobcentres. These assessments are reviewed whenever new services are introduced.

Jobcentre Plus

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce screened reception areas in benefit offices after the removal of security screens for individual desks.

Nick Brown: holding answer 4 February 2002
	In every Jobcentre Plus area there will continue to be screened provision for dealing with those customers and transactions known to give rise to particular risk. The precise type and location of this provision will depend on the recommendations of the risk assessments carried out in each individual Jobcentre Plus office.

Jobcentre Plus

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the level of physical assaults that have taken place in Jobcentre Plus Pathfinder clusters compared with the level of assaults that have taken place in other centres administered by him.

Nick Brown: holding answer 4 February 2002
	During 2000, (the latest year for which full records are held) there were 164 cases of physical contact between Benefits Agency staff and clients. In the Employment Service, which has twice as many offices as the Benefits Agency, there were 233 cases of physical contact in that year. Cases of physical contact cover any physical contact, including spitting, the throwing of small items such as paper clips or rolled up forms, or touching of any kind. Approximately 190,000 people per day visit Benefits Agency and Employment Service offices, and 100,000 people work in the two agencies.
	In the Jobcentre Plus Pathfinder offices, since they opened for business on 22 October, there has been one reported case of physical contact between a member of public and a member of staff where a client trod on the foot of a member of staff, possibly by accident. In that period, well over half a million people have passed through Jobcentre Plus offices.

Jobcentre Plus

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the results were of discussions held with the Health and Safety Executive prior to the removal of glass security screens from the new Jobcentre Plus offices; and what recommendations were made by the Health and Safety Executive.

Nick Brown: holding answer 5 February 2002
	Officials have discussed the changes to delivery associated with Jobcentre Plus and the risk assessment measures we have put in place with the Health and Safety Executive. Overall the HSE were satisfied with the general level of management of safety issues and the areas for improvement they will cover in their report are all within the scope of our current procedures.
	Full risk assessments have been carried out in every Jobcentre Plus office and all of their individual recommendations implemented in full. Safety measures implemented as a result of risk assessments include security guards, installation of closed circuit TV cameras, provision of safety alarm systems, controlled segregation of staff areas using coded door locks and changes to the office layout to maximise safety.
	Officials continue to remain in touch with the Health and Safety Executive as we review the effectiveness of the new service arrangements.

Jobcentre Plus

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what additional protection he will provide for Benefits Agency staff following the removal of security screens;
	(2)  if he will amend his security plans for benefits offices.

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the removal of screens in Benefits Agency offices.

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to carry out a review of staff safety before removing screening from Benefits Agency offices; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answers 4 and 6 February 2002
	There are no plans to remove protective screens from Benefits Agency offices until they are converted into fully integrated offices of the new Jobcentre Plus service.
	56 Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices are already open and operating effectivelywith positive feedback from staff and customers. For each of these offices a full health and safety risk assessment has been conducted and its recommendations implemented in full. These risk assessments are now in the process of being reviewed in the light of experience of live operations. The measures implemented to support the safety of staff and improved customer service as a result of the risk assessments include: closed circuit television; better management in each office to avoid difficult situations building up, for example floor managers to greet customers and guide them through their visit; where recommended by risk assessments, security guards with clear instructions as to when to intervene; in each pathfinder area screened facilities to deal with situations likely to give rise to particular risk; a clear zero tolerance policy under which determined action will be taken against anyone threatening or abusing Jobcentre Plus staff.

Jobcentre Plus

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training was given to his Department's staff with regard to the Social Security (Jobcentre Plus Interviews) Regulations 2001 before they came into effect on 23 October.

Nick Brown: Some 50,000 days of training were provided for the approximately 4,000 staff in Jobcentre Plus pathfinder office before they opened in October 2001. The amount of training delivered to individual members of staff was largely dependent on their background and experience. For example, staff new to the personal adviser role received an average of 73 days training, whereas existing personal advisers received an average of eight days training. The requirements of the specific regulations referred to was fully covered in the training provided wherever appropriate.

Women Workers (Ethnic Minorities)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to increase the proportion of women from ethnic minorities in the labour force.

Nick Brown: As I explained in my reply to my hon. Member of 11 January 2002, Official Report, column 1045W, women from ethnic minorities can benefit from the range of new deals and other welfare to work initiatives that we have introduced. These initiatives, such as working families tax credit, the national minimum wage and the national child care strategy, help people overcome the barriers to employment and to make work pay. In April this year, we are also introducing a new service in five areas of the country to reach out to people from ethnic minorities who are at a disadvantage in the labour market. The outreach service will explore different ways jobless people from ethnic minority communities can be helpedfrom attracting people in to mainstream services like new deal to improving links to employers or providing specialist training where appropriate. We are investing 15 million in this new service.
	Measures are also being introduced in the current Employment Bill that will help working mothers to remain within the work force through better balancing of their work and home commitments. This is good for parents, children and business.

Cold Weather Payments

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to include people under the age of 60, but registered disabled, in the cold weather payment scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: Cold weather payments provide extra help towards heating costs for the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society in periods of exceptionally cold weather.
	People under 60 years of age who receive income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance which includes a premium for disability or long term sickness can already receive cold weather payments. We have no plans to change the eligibility conditions.

Industrial Injuries (Chemical Agents)

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking on the report of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on Chemical Agents at Work.

Malcolm Wicks: The report of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on chemical agents has been laid before Parliament today (Cm 5395). Copies of the report will be placed in the Library and are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office. We are grateful to the council for their work on this subject. After careful consideration we have decided to accept all the recommendations made in the report for changes to the list of prescribed diseases under the industrial injuries scheme caused by exposure to chemical agents at work. The necessary regulations will be brought before Parliament in due course to implement the changes.

Pensions Statistics

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to ensure that work and pensions statistics are placed on the Office for National Statistics website on the day of release; and if he will make a commitment to release statistics in non-electronic formats when this is not possible.

Ian McCartney: National Statistics outputs published by the Department for Work and Pensions are normally made available on the departmental website on the day of release (at www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/online.html). Paper based versions of publications are also available and almost all can be found in the library. The title and date of each output is provided in the monthly ONS National Statistics Updates release. This can be found at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/updates.pdf.

Unemployment (Greater London)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the employment prospects for the Greater London area.

Nick Brown: The Department does not make forecasts of the future level of employment. However, despite uncertainty about the prospects for the world economy, the UK labour market is still performing well. The number of people in work in London remains at a high level and has increased by 240,000 since 1997, and is up by 75,000 over the last year.
	Though unemployment in the capital has increased over the year, this is because the number of people in London's labour force has increased by more than the rise of employment. New vacancies are displayed in London Jobcentres all the timeover a thousand every working day, with many more available through other recruitment channels.
	Like other regions, some areas within London have employment rates well below the national average. Initiatives such as Action Teams for Jobs and Employment Zones are supporting areas like these through new and innovative ways of helping jobless people move into work.

Pensions Downrating

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners a year over the last four years had their pensions reduced after a six week stay in hospital; what estimate he has made of how much money was raised in that way; what estimate he has made of the costs in administration of (a) reducing and (b) reinstating those pension payments; what proportion of people whose pensions were reduced subsequently experienced delays in their benefits being reinstated when they left hospital; and what plans he has to review these rules.

Ian McCartney: The available information is in the tables.
	
		Number of people as of 31 March in each individual year with their pension down-rated
		
			 Year Number down-rated six to 52 weeks 
		
		
			 March 1998 19,000 
			 March 1999 20,000 
			 March 2000 22,000 
			 March 2001 23,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures rounded to nearest 1,000.
	2. Information is not available prior to 199798.
	3. Administrative data only records information at an individual point in time. It is therefore not possible to give the total number of people who have their pension down-rated during the course of a year, only the total number at a particular point in time.
	
		Reduction in state pension expenditure due to six weeks hospital downrating --  million
		
			 Year Over six weeks 
		
		
			 199697 22 
			 199798 22 
			 199899 24 
			 19992000 26 
			 200001 28 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Cash terms
	2. Rounded to the nearest  million
	The Benefit Agency's administration costs are published in the Benefits Agency Annual Report and Accounts 200001, copies of which are available in the Library. The costs are not classified by individual tasks but an estimate of the staff costs for administration of hospital downrating is around 0.5 million.
	The information about the proportion of people whose pensions were reduced and who subsequently experienced delays in their benefits being reinstated when they left hospital is not collected.
	The Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health, has looked at issues affecting hospital in-patients including rules governing the downrating of benefits.
	This rule prevents double provision from public funds as the publicly funded NHS maintains people while they stay in hospital as well as providing free treatment. Social security maintenance benefits are also paid from state funds. They are therefore not paid in full indefinitely where a person is in a NHS hospital and having their day to day living expenses met through the NHS.
	The double provision principle, is a key cornerstone of the system of national insurance introduced over 50 years ago.

Pensions Downrating

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 26 November 2001, Official Report, column 710W, on hospital downrating, what the saving to public funds was from the downrating of pensions for people staying (a) more than six weeks and (b) more than 52 weeks in hospital.

Ian McCartney: The information is in the table.
	
		 million 
		
			Downrating type  
			  652 weeks Over 52 weeks Total 
		
		
			 199798 22 33 55 
			 199899 24 32 56 
			 19992000 26 30 56 
			 200001 28 29 57 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are in cash terms
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest  million

Public Relations Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by (a) his Department and (b) bodies for which it is responsible on external public relations consultants in each of the last four years.

Nick Brown: The Department (including the former DSS and the part of the former DfEE which are now the responsibility of the Department for Work and Pensions) incurred the following expenditure on public relations consultancies since 199899:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 199899 342,440 
			 19992000 317,267 
			 200001 (45)201,811 
			 200102 (46)234,000 
		
	
	(45) Includes 45,607 (rounded up to 46,000 for the new deal also included in the written answer to the hon. Member by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Young People and Learning (Mr. Lewis) on 25 January 2002, Official Report, column 1130W.
	(46) To end November.
	Note:
	Agencies of the Department registered no expenditure on public relations consultancies over the last four years.

New Deal

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the New Deal supports unemployed people who wish to start their own businesses, with special reference to Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East.

Nick Brown: We recognise the importance of the role of self-employment in the economy and helping unemployed people set up their own businesses is a key feature of our welfare to work initiatives. Eligible unemployed jobseekers can receive help entering self- employment through the new deals or through the Work-Based Learning for Adults (WBLA) programme. This help is available in all parts of the country, including Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East.
	The self-employment model for people entering from new deals for young people, 25 plus, lone parents and partners or WBLA has three stages:
	Stage 1: a one day basic awareness and information session;
	Stage 2: four one day courses/counselling leading to the production of a business plan;
	Stage 3: up to 26 weeks of test trading (up to 13 weeks in WBLA), in which the participant receives: experience of the responsibilities and realities of self employment;
	an allowance equivalent to their previous level of benefit (plus a small weekly top up allowance) to avoid going into debt;
	on-going advice and counselling from a business mentor;
	supported training and;
	continued aftercare once test trading has finished.
	A range of help and financial support is also available to people moving into self-employment through new deal 50 plus. This includes help and advice from a new deal personal adviser, a tax free Employment Credit paid in addition to someone's income for up to 52 weeks, and an in-work training grant.
	The new deal for disabled people is piloting a range of approaches to find out how best to help people on incapacity benefits move into and remain in work. People in receipt of qualifying benefits have access to a network of innovative job brokers across Great Britain who will help and support them in finding and keeping work. As part of the service they offer, job brokers work with people who wish to start their own businesses and offer them support once they have moved into work.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed in his Department on a job share contract; and what percentage of vacant positions was advertised on this basis in the last 12 months.

John Reid: 33 staff are currently employed by the Northern Ireland office on a jobshare contract.
	71 per cent. of vacant positions advertised in the last 12 months were open to job-sharing arrangements.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: There have been a total of five confirmed work-related stress cases over the last three years; two cases in 1999, one case in 2000 and two cases in 2001. No compensation has been paid to employees in each of the last three years. On the five confirmed cases, the working days lost were 352 days in 1999, one year and 86 days in 2000, and one year and 126 days in 2001. Of the five confirmed cases, the costs were 35,212.84 in 1999, 48,611.32 in 2000, and 63,366.58 in 2001.
	The procedures in place include the provision of the departmental welfare service; facilities such as phased return to work, the introduction of work-life balance policies; and early referral by personnel to the occupational health service. Costs are not recorded specifically against work-related stress.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the effect of the working time directive on his Department's employees; how many employees are working in excess of 48 hours per week; what steps he is taking to reduce this number; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: The regulations are operated within the Department and it is only exceptional where business needs require staff to be invited to work in excess of the 48 hour limit.

Departmental Events

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by his Department and which took place on non-Departmental premises in each of the last four years giving the title, purpose, date and cost of each.

John Reid: As no records of this information are kept centrally, this question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Publications

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the publications issued by his Department in each of the last four years; and what the (a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) purpose of each was.

John Reid: As no records of this information are kept centrally, this question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Farming Subsidies

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) payments made and (b) running costs have been of the (i) arable area payment scheme, (ii) suckler cow premium scheme, (iii) hill livestock compensatory allowance, (iv) hill farming allowance, (v) countryside stewardship scheme and (vi) environmentally sensitive areas schemes since 1996.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 24 January 2002
	The amounts paid for (i) arable area payments scheme were:
	
		 
		
			 Scheme year Amount paid Administration costs 
		
		
			 1996 1,054,740,241 6,824,000 
			 1997 1,055,721,796 6,388,000 
			 1998 985,942,025 6,730,000 
			 1999 1,130,409,358 6,347,000 
			 2000 882,979,696 (47)7,222,000 
		
	
	(47) Estimated outturn
	The amounts paid for (ii) suckler cow premium scheme were:
	
		 
		
			 Scheme year Amount paid Administration costs 
		
		
			 1996 81,524,702 2,685,900 
			 1997 78,762,180 2,373,600 
			 1998 77,854,276 2,493,300 
			 1999 70,567,139 3,752,071 
			 2000 67,923,516 3,742,781 
		
	
	The amounts paid for (iii) hill livestock compensatory allowance were:
	
		 
		
			 Scheme year Amount paid Administration costs 
		
		
			 1996 27,128,357 1,127,000 
			 1997 41,398,518 996,000 
			 1998 28,086,148 1,046,000 
			 1999 44,288,837 1,755,281 
			 2000 43,666,451 927,037 
		
	
	There were no amounts paid for (iv) hill farm allowance for these periods.
	The amounts paid for (v) countryside stewardship scheme were:
	
		 
		
			 Scheme year Amount paid Administration costs 
		
		
			 1996 12,468,000 2,031,000 
			 1997 17,126,000 1,793,000 
			 1998 22,030,000 1,884,000 
			 1999 26,038,000 1,773,000 
			 2000 31,915,000 2,918,000 
		
	
	The amounts paid for (vi) environmentally sensitive areas scheme were:
	
		 
		
			 Scheme year Amount paid Administration costs 
		
		
			 1996 27,591,000 1,461,000 
			 1997 32,984,000 1,290,000 
			 1998 36,376,000 1,355,000 
			 1999 41,144,000 1,743,000 
			 2000 43,807,000 2,005,000

Agriculture, Wales

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from (a) the National Assembly for Wales and (b) the Secretary of State for Wales regarding the devolution of full powers on agricultural affairs to the National Assembly for Wales; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: On 1 February we received a letter from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, following a discussion he had had with the Minister for Rural Affairs of the Welsh Assembly on the question of the devolution of further functions in respect of animal health. This is an aspect of devolution that is likely to be looked at by the independent foot and mouth disease inquiries. This is an important matter which will need to be carefully looked at in the light of any recommendations from these inquiries.

Seals and Dolphins

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what scientific evidence she has evaluated that the feeding habits of (a) grey seals, (b) common seals and (c) dolphins are likely to have a significant detrimental effect on the fish stocks in the waters around England and Wales;
	(2)  what studies she has evaluated on the average amount of fish consumed each year by an individual adult (a) grey seal, (b) common seal and (c) dolphin;
	(3)  what scientific evidence she has evaluated on whether culling seals would be an effective strategy for fisheries management in England and Wales; and what studies she has evaluated on the success of seal culling initiatives in other countries in increasing commercial fish catches.

Elliot Morley: 1985 diet data indicate that grey seals require about 5,500Kcals of energy per day, equivalent to about 7kg of cod or 4kg of sandeels (the difference being due to the oil content of the fish). Diet composition varies seasonally and by area, but is mostly sandeels, gadoids (predominantly cod) and flatfish. The same is true for common seals whose daily dietary requirement is less, at around 3,000 Kcals. However, most of the fish consumed are likely to have been juveniles and, given the high rates of natural mortality for these species, there is no guarantee that had they not been caught they would have survived to reach a size at which they would have been available to commercial fishermen.
	Equivalent information is not available for dolphins.
	The Natural Environment Research Council's Special Committee on Seals has advised that populations in England and Wales are still below the levels which preceded the outbreak of the phocine distemper virus in 1988 and that on that basis and the lack of clear scientific evidence seals are having a major impact on commercial fish stocks, there is no justification for a cull.

Livestock Movements

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to amend the 20-day standstill order scheme to apply to individual animals instead of holdings; and what assessment she has made of the efficacy of such a change on the practical management of livestock farms.

Elliot Morley: Veterinary advice is that for biosecurity reasons, the 20-day standstill rule should continue to apply to holdings rather that individual animals although a number of exceptions to this rule are being permitted under the livestock movement regime which was introduced on 11 February.
	Any future changes will need to ensure the continued segregation of incoming animals from the rest of the livestock in order to maintain biosecurity. This situation will be kept under review.

Golden Jubilee

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what events (a) she is and (b) other Ministers in his Department are planning to attend as part of the golden jubilee celebrations; and what events her Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the golden jubilee.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on 11 February 2002, Official Report, columns 5859W.

Epidemics

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition of epidemic (a) is used by her Department and (b) was used by its predecessor.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 5 February 2002
	The Chief Veterinary Officer would usually consider that a pattern whereby over a period of time, the number of new cases confirmed each day substantially exceeded the previous day's total, would provide reasonable grounds to consider an outbreak to be an epidemic.

Brown Rats

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment has been made of the contribution of wild brown rats to the spread of foot and mouth disease; and what the result of such assessment was.

Elliot Morley: There has been no recent assessment of the contribution of wild brown rats to the spread of foot and mouth disease.

Brown Rats

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what proportion of farms affected by foot and mouth disease steps were taken to eradicate the brown rat population; and how many rat bodies were recovered as the result of treatments.

Elliot Morley: Steps were taken to eradicate brown rats on all infected premises, on dangerous contact premises and on slaughter on suspicion premises. Rat bodies were destroyed immediately and there are no records of the numbers involved.

Lost/Stolen Property

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list those items valued at less than 50 each which have been stolen or lost from her Department in each of the last four years.

Elliot Morley: In the last four years there have been several reports of lost or stolen items ranging from personal groceries to small pieces of office equipment such as a dictaphone or calculator. The estimated value of these small items by year is as follows:
	
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 1998 148.30 
			 1999 107.25 
			 2000 46.70 
			 2001 (48) 
		
	
	(48) None reported
	Data from 8 June 2001 relate to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs while previous information covers Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Animal Health Strategy

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's animal health strategy is.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 7 February 2002
	The recent Policy Commission report on the future of farming and food recommended that a comprehensive animal health strategy be devised and implemented. In addition, the on-going inquiries into the foot and mouth epidemic may affect our approach to animal health. The Government will consider the recommendations of these inquiries to determine whether the existing strategy, as described in the CVO's annual reports, should be amended.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the most recent results of the monitoring of the environmental implications of the foot and mouth burial site at Throckmorton airfield.

Elliot Morley: Monitoring of the site since May 2001 has demonstrated that degradation of carcases is under way. The great majority of the fluids from the degradation (the leachate) is abstracted and taken to a treatment facility for processing (Minworth water reclamation works). To reduce the risk of unacceptable migration of the small remaining amounts of leachate, a low permeability barrier has been constructed within the ground.
	Intense monitoring of surface water, ground water, and ground gas is being carried out under the supervision of the Environment Agency. Migration through the ground of the remnant degradation by-products is proceeding at an environmentally acceptable rate. All results are currently within environmentally acceptable limits. The Department will continue to manage, monitor and carry out remedial measures on the site for as long as is necessary, all under the oversight of the Environment Agency.

Foot and Mouth

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department expects to contribute to farmers in North Yorkshire in foot and mouth compensation and clean up payments; and how many farms will receive payments.

Elliot Morley: The Department expects to pay farmers in North Yorkshire as a result of foot and mouth disease as follows:
	Compensation for animals slaughtered124,460,216
	Compensation for items seized and destroyed2,989,645
	Cleansing and disinfecting costs paid to farmers16,101,929.
	Payments are being made in relation to 765 premises in North Yorkshire.

Foot and Mouth

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Government expect to contribute in grants to businesses in North Yorkshire other than farms to help them to deal with the consequences of foot and mouth.

Elliot Morley: The total foot and mouth business recovery fund allocation to North Yorkshire, both from Yorkshire Forward's existing resources and from those made specifically available by the Department, is some 5.5 million. This is all available to small non- agriculture businesses.

Foot and Mouth

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the value is of losses notified to her Department caused by the foot and mouth epidemic suffered by non-profit making organisations;
	(2)  if she will list all the non-profit making organisations who have contacted her to report financial losses caused by the foot and mouth epidemic.

Alun Michael: Various not-for-profit organisations have contacted the Department about the impact that foot and mouth disease and the measures taken to control it have had on their operations. These include the Youth Hostels Association (who estimate the impact on their income in 2001 to be 5 million), National Trust (4.5 million), National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (0.5 million), the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (0.25 million), the Holiday Fellowship, Farm Stay UK, the Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust (0.6 million), the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (0.25 million) and the Field Studies Council. Purely local organisations are not included; and, given the practical difficulty of checking all the correspondence received by the Department and its predecessors, the list may not be comprehensive.

Foot and Mouth

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many public footpaths and public open spaces are closed due to the foot and mouth epidemic; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Well over 99 per cent. of rights of way in England are open again. Remaining closures are where rights of way pass through the farmyards of premises still under veterinary restrictions, until re-stocking procedures are completed. Most of these restrictions will be lifted in the coming few weeks.
	A small number of farms are not re-stocking, and will remain under veterinary restrictions into the summer. Any rights of way through those farmyards will remain closed, unless temporary diversions can be put in place. I am urging local authorities to publish clear information on their websites and through helplines and tourist information centres about where these few remaining closures are located.
	I am not aware of any public open spaces still closed because of foot and mouth disease.

Foot and Mouth

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if the Countryside Agency will be permitted to claim costs of administration from the Countryside Access Recovery Fund; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the criteria is for the selection and allocation of money to organisations making claims to the Countryside Access Recovery Fund; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  if non-profit making organisations making claims to the Countryside Access Recovery Fund will have their administration costs paid by her Department;
	(4)  if the Countryside Agency has been allocated special funding for the administration of the Countryside Access Recovery Fund; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Grants from the Countryside Access Recovery Fund will be disbursed in accordance with the guidelines I published when I announced the fund on 5 February. These are set out as follows:
	Guidelines for the Countryside Access Recovery Fund
	(1) Grants from the fund will be available to support approved projects developed by not-for-profit organisations concerned with promoting countryside access and/or understanding of the English countryside and will be subject to the criteria set out as follows:
	(2) The package of support for an individual organisation or project will vary from case to case. The fund will be used for direct support to expenditure by not-for-profit organisations on: (i) improvements and renovations or provision of new buildings or other infrastructure to help secure, expand or enhance the activity of the organisation related to the promotion of access to or understanding of the countryside; (ii) advice and consultancy to help them adjust and plan their recovery; and (iii) activities to promote access to, and understanding of the countryside.
	(3) Before direct support is provided to an individual not-for-profit organisation they must satisfy the Countryside Agency that: (i) the financial position of the organisation has been substantially adversely affected by the incidence of FMD and/or the measures taken to control it; (ii) the organisation has taken all reasonable action to mitigate the impact (including claiming rate relief and tax, VAT and NIC deferral where eligible), and where appropriate has drawn on other sources of support (including contributions from the private sector, appeals to members etc.); (iii) the organisation would be financially viable apart from the effect of FMD, and expects to return to its normal level of income by 31 December 2002.
	(4) Grants will normally cover a maximum of 60 per cent. of the project cost. Applications for grants must be received by 30 April 2002 and the grant will be payable on proof of expenditure.
	(5) The scheme will be administered by the Countryside Agency. Potential applicants should contact the Countryside Agency (01242 533237) for a preliminary discussion.
	Fuller guidance for prospective applicants will be available from the Countryside Agency. If eligible applications exceed available resources, regard will be had to how far applications meet the criteria and how effectively they would promote the objectives of the fund.
	Organisations will not have their costs of applying to the fund paid for by the Department, but the overhead costs of projects may be included. My officials are in discussion with the Countryside Agency about the costs they may incur in administering the scheme on DEFRA's behalf.

Foot and Mouth

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government are investigating the use of vaccination in response to a future foot and mouth outbreak.

Elliot Morley: Yes. Vaccination is a disease control option, whose use was investigated and kept under review during the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak. Like all other disease control options, we are currently considering its future use as part of the review of our contingency planning.

Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Secretary for Agriculture in the National Assembly for Wales on assistance for the English and Welsh shellfish industries in recovering from the impact of recent diarrhetic shellfish poisoning outbreaks.

Elliot Morley: None.

Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the economic, employment and environmental impact of recent outbreaks of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning in the UK.

Elliot Morley: None. The devolved Administrations have responsibility for making such assessments in their own areas. In England, we have, at the request of the Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Committee, made provision under the Thames Estuary Cockle Fishery Order 1994 for greater flexibility in the management of the fishery to help minimise the impact of any closures on local cockle fishermen.

Legislative Reform (Cruelty to Animals)

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to propose reform and legislation relating to cruelty to animals, with particular reference to the tethering of horses.

Elliot Morley: Under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, it is an offence to cause a horse, ass or mule unnecessary suffering including as a result of the manner or conditions in which it was tethered.
	The Department is currently reviewing the legislation relating to the welfare of captive and domestic animals, including that which affects the tethering of horses. More information about the review can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/animalwelfare/ letter.htm.

CAP Spending (Euros)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much per year has been spent in euros at current exchange rates in the EU as a whole on the common agricultural policy in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: The following table give the cost of the common agricultural policy throughout the EU at current exchange rates.
	
		
			  FEOGA years  Cost of the CAP in euros (millions) Cost of the CAP converted into pounds (millions) at /euro = 0.6163 
		
		
			 1996 39,108 24,102 
			 1997 40,675 25,068 
			 1998 38,748 23,881 
			 1999 39,541 24,369 
			 2000 40,435 24,920

Water Sports

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when DEFRA-funded research into water-based sport and recreation was discussed by (a) the Environment Agency Board and (b) each regional fisheries, ecology and recreation advisory committee.

Alun Michael: An information paper was presented to regional fisheries, ecology and recreation advisory committees at the time the DETR research was commissioned (2001). The final report to DEFRA has only just been published and the summary report will be provided to Committees for the April 2002 round of meetings. The report may subsequently be referred to the agency board.

Water Sports

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will request the Environment Agency to make a comparative study of arrangements for access to water for non- powered craft in other European countries; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the compatibility of angling and canoeing activities on waters where there is a statutory right of navigation; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: In December 2001 we published the findings of research into the facts about water-based sport and recreation. The report, Water-Based Sport and Recreation: the facts, considered the relations between users including anglers and canoeists. The research did not extend to examining the provision of access to water in other European countries.
	DEFRA officials will shortly be meeting the other sponsors of the research (British Waterways, the Countryside Agency, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency and Sport England) and other interested Government Departments. In the light of those decisions I shall consider what further work or action we may need to undertake in the light of the report's findings.

Water Sports

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list new access agreements to moving water for canoeists in England and Wales reached in each of the last 10 years.

Alun Michael: Such information is not held by this Department or its agencies. However, the report, Water-Based Sport and Recreation: the facts, found that there were formal access agreements on 812 km of major inland rivers that are not public navigations. Over two thirds of agreements are either for the angling closed season or periods of less than one month.

Organic Farming

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what progress she has made in increasing organic food production as a proportion of total UK food production;
	(2)  what plans she has to set a target for the proportion of farmland to be farmed organically.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 8 February 2002
	We have made a significant amount of money available to assist farmers to convert to organic production and will continue to do so. In April 1999 we introduced the Organic Farming Scheme offering greatly increased rates of aid compared to the previous scheme. Since then the area of land under organic management in England has risen from 0.6 per cent. to 1.7 per cent. of agricultural land. And we have budgeted expenditure of 140 million over the lifetime of the England Rural Development Programme, which should triple the area under organic management by 2006; however, the Government do not have any plans to set a specific target for proportion of land to be farmed organically. The development of the UK organic sector will be carried forward in the context of an organic food and farming action plan once the recommendations of the Policy Commission on the future of Farming and Food have been taken into account.

Genotype Errors

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 241W, on genotype errors, if she will list the different types of errors that were discovered upon the retesting of the samples.

Elliot Morley: The errors which occurred at LGC were as follows:
	Problems with the bar code reader on the robot handling the samples resulted in manual interventions which in turn caused errors in the identification of samples;
	A second robot was misaligned and this resulted in the incorrect transfer of samples, causing errors in the identification of samples;
	There were two sets of problems with the main testing methodology used by LGC. The first caused delays but not errors. The second was a technical problem with the assay. The latter resulted in the false reading of three samples.

Fisheries

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 409, on fisheries, if she will make a statement on whether the effort distribution set out in the proposal for the cod and hake recovery programme will be directly linked to the quota distribution scheme as under the present Relative Stability keys.

Elliot Morley: In their proposals for measures for the recovery of cod and hake stocks, the Commission envisage that the allocation of permitted effort between member states should be based on relative fishing effort by each member state's fleet over the reference period 19982000. The Commission proposals effectively leave the distribution of the national effort allocation within each member state to national discretion.

Fisheries

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress her Department has made in securing the effective UK management control over fishing effort within the (a) six and (b) 12-mile limit from the UK's coastline.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 February 2002
	A decision on the six and 12-mile limits will be taken as part of the CFP review in 2002. Previous discussions in the Council of Ministers have revealed a very strong consensus among member states in favour of renewing the present provisions; the commission is also known to support them. For my part, I shall be making every effort to get the limits made permanent.

Fisheries

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fishermen there were and what the value of fish caught by the fishing industry was in each relevant constituency in each year since 1990.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 February 2002
	Data are not available by constituency. However estimates of the number of fishermen from 1994 by district and the value of fish landed by UK vessels over 10m in length for the major UK ports are published in UK Sea Fisheries Statistics available in the Library of the House.

Fisheries

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 242W, if (a) the whole 6 million decommissioning scheme funds will be paid through her Department's account and (b) the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Objective 1 budget will be fully restored.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 12 February 2002
	It is in the public interest for grant payments under the fishing vessel decommissioning scheme to be co-financed by EU funds, and we will therefore draw on the available EU finance. Under the Community requirements the EU contribution for vessels which under the scheme are Cornish must be set against the total allocation of EU funds for the Cornish Objective 1 fisheries programme for the 200006 period. this arrangement was agreed by the Objective 1 programme monitoring committee for the decommissioning scheme.
	This process does not reduce the availability of the 5 million funds which we have made available for fisheries for the period 200102 to 200304 under the Cornish programme. Only 1 million of this provision has so far been committed through projects approved by the Objective 1 Working Group. I welcome the work being undertaken by the fisheries task force to develop a strategy for future expenditure in Cornwall.

Bovine TB

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many herds are under movement restrictions imposed by her Department owing to overdue bovine tuberculosis tests; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Around 1,000 herds are expected to be affected by the measures introduced on 31 January 2002 to re-impose movement restrictions on certain herds in annual testing parishes. These herds had an overdue six or 12 month test after the lifting of movement restrictions following a previous TB incident.

Bovine TB

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of the suspension of the bovine tuberculosis testing programme during the 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease on the incubation and spread of TB; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: We will not be able to assess accurately the impact of the diversion of resources to deal with the foot and mouth disease emergency on the spread of TB until the backlog of tests has been cleared. As clearance of the backlog and routine testing is being prioritised according to veterinary risk assessment, the early results are from those premises considered most likely to be affected.

Bovine TB

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press releases were issued about bovine TB by her Department and MAFF in each of the past 36 months.

Elliot Morley: The number of press releases issued about bovine TB per month in the past 36 months is as follows:
	
		
			 Year/month Number 
		
		
			 1999  
			 February 0 
			 March 4 
			 April 0 
			 May 0 
			 June 0 
			 July 0 
			 August 0 
			 September 2 
			 October 1 
			 November 1 
			 December 4 
			   
			 2000  
			 January 3 
			 February 2 
			 March 3 
			 April 0 
			 May 1 
			 June 0 
			 July 0 
			 August 3 
			 September 1 
			 October 3 
			 November 1 
			 December 1 
			   
			 2001  
			 January 1 
			 February 1 
			 March 0 
			 April 0 
			 May 0 
			 June 0 
			 July 0 
			 August 1 
			 September 1 
			 October 1 
			 November 1 
			 December 0 
			   
			 2002  
			 January 1

Bovine TB

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to speed up the bovine tuberculosis testing programme since the lifting of foot and mouth disease control restrictions; and if she will calculate the number of personnel employed by her Department in executing the bovine TB testing programme.

Elliot Morley: Following the foot and mouth emergency we are re-directing resources to the research and control strategy to tackle TB in cattle including the testing programme. To date over 5,800 working hours have been recorded on the testing programme in December 2001. Some 90 per cent. of this comprised work by administrative staff and the remainder by veterinary professionals.
	As at 1 January 2002 the complement of permanent veterinary staff of the State Veterinary Service tasked with undertaking, among other matters, the bovine TB testing programme was 218 veterinary officers and 24 divisional veterinary managers. In addition to permanent veterinary staff we are also employing temporary veterinary inspectors. Currently there are 340 in post carrying out similar functions to veterinary officers including work on testing as part of the TB control strategy. Primarily local veterinary inspectors from private practice undertake the actual testing on farms. There are nearly 4,000 approved who will spend a varying proportion of their time carrying out testing on our behalf.

Rural Affairs

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost was of the NURAD programme.

Elliot Morley: The NURAD budget presented in the Business Case approved by Treasury showed total costs of 41.9 million over the full seven years, with IT development costs of 29.3 million over the CSR period 19992000.
	Total expenditure from April 1999 until programme suspension was 13.2 million of which 6.8 million is reusable assets and 6.4 million nugatory construction in progress expenditure that has been formally written off.

Parishes

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South-East Cornwall (Mr. Breed) of 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 1018W, what use her Department will make of the list of parishes and sleeping parishes deposited in the Library; and what her estimate is of the cost to the Countryside Agency of preparing this list.

Alun Michael: The data in the list were collected as part of the Countryside Agency's regular Rural Services Survey and used to prepare the Rural White Paper headline indicator of community vibrancy. The list arose from the need to answer a parliamentary question from the hon. Member for South-East Cornwall (Mr. Breed) on 21 November 2001, Official Report, column 320W on rural parishes. No other use of the list is intended. Preparation of the list in the format requested is estimated to have cost two days of staff time.

Parishes

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the parish councils of (a) Broad Town, (b) Chippenham Without, (c) Great Somerford, (d) Grittleton, (e) Kington St. Michael, (f) Lea and Cleverton, (g) Luckington, (h) Lydiard Millicent, (i) Minety, (j) Nettleton, (k) North Wraxall, (l) Norton and Foxley, (m) Oaksey, (n) Seagry, (o) Stanton St. Quintin, (p) Tockenham, and (q) Yatton Keynell in North Wiltshire were omitted from the list of parishes deposited in the Library.

Alun Michael: I understand that all of the above mentioned parish councils were sent questionnaires by the Countryside Agency as part of the Rural Services Survey. However, the completed questionnaire was not returned to the agency so it was not possible to complete an indicator score for them.

Parishes

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if, pursuant to her answer of 21 November 2001, Official Report, column 320W, on rural parishes, she will define what parameters were used in defining parishes according to the four categories; and what factors led to the choice of these categories for parish activity;
	(2)  which criteria were used by her Department and the Countryside Agency to determine that (a) Braydon, (b) Hankerton and (c) Easton Grey parish councils are sleeping;
	(3)  which criteria were used by her Department and the Countryside Agency to determine that (a) St. Paul Malmesbury Without, (b) Kington Langley, (c) Brokenborough, (d) Bremhill and (e) Lydiard Tregoze parish councils are barely active.

Alun Michael: The former DETR asked the Countryside Agency to develop an indicator of community vibrancy for inclusion in the Rural White Paper with a view to measuring agreed change over time. It was decided to use measurable factors that could be collected as part of the Countryside Agency's Rural Services Survey but with the expectation that the indicator would develop over time. The information collected and used comprised of contested parish council elections, the presence of a village hall or similar local meeting place, the presence of a public house, and incidence of local traditions and events. Full details are set out in the Countryside Agency's State of the Countryside report 2001 where it was noted that there is a marked relationship between the indicator score and population size. The indicator was reported at the national level.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in her Department; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost, in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA has received a total of three centrally reported cases of work-related stress among staff over the past three years. No compensation has been paid in any of these cases. Time of work totalled 245 days at a cost of 6,225.
	It is not possible to quantify the cost of this strategy without detailed analysis of all work groups which is not practicable.
	The Department has set a target to reduce the number of working days lost from work-related injury and ill-health by 30 per cent. by 2010. This mirrors the Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy target.
	DEFRA was established in June 2001. Since then, the Management Board has established a sub-committee on stress which recommended a number of actions currently under way. A stress policy statement for the new Department will be issued this year.

Organophosphate Pesticides

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the international studies of the effect of exposure to organophosphate pesticides, with particular reference to their use in agriculture, which are under review in her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 12 February 2002
	It would not be possible to list all of the studies, both national and international, which have been submitted by companies to support applications for approvals or for reviews of organophosphate pesticides. The information is not collected in this format and it would be too resource intensive and disproportionate in cost to collate one. For example, 171 published and unpublished studies were evaluated for the review of the organophosphate, chlorpyrifos and a list of over 2,000 other studies which were available was also submitted.
	At the conclusion of these reviews, as is normal practice, the Advisory Committee on Pesticides' evaluation documents will be made available and will include a list of the studies which have been evaluated. No evaluation documents have yet been published.

Cetacean Deaths

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in (a) Scotland, (b) France, (c) Denmark and (d) other nations regarding the incidence of cetacean deaths in the English Channel and western approaches.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 12 February 2002
	In order to have an impact on the problem identified by the monitoring work, action will need to be takeneither by introducing mitigation measures or by other meansat EU level, as vessels from a number of member states are involved. Following consultation with the Scottish Executive, I have therefore written on 4 February to Commissioner Fischler to alert him to the need for action. I will be maintaining contact with the Commission and other member states to follow this up.

Cetacean Deaths

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent of cetacean bycatch in the (a) fair-trawl, (b) industrial trawl and (c) other pelagic fishery sectors in each of the last three years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Information on the full extent of cetacean casualties caused by fishing is not available.
	The Department has commissioned sample monitoring of the incidental capture of cetaceans through a number of research contracts with the Sea Mammal Research Unit. This research has demonstrated that there is a cetacean bycatch problem in pelagic trawl fisheries. We are therefore pressing forward with trials of mitigation measures to reduce bycatch.

Cetacean Deaths

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) recent work has been and (b) present work is being undertaken to discover the (i) extent and (ii) cause of cetacean deaths in recent (A) years and (B) months in the English Channel and western approaches.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The Department funds a co-ordinated investigation carried out by The Natural History Museum in co-operation with the Institute of Zoology and the Scottish Agricultural College which aims to find out and record the cause of death of stranded cetaceans, what species, sex and length they are, and when and where they strand.
	In January 2002, 75 cetacean strandings were reported along the coast of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, with another eight animals reported along the coast of Hampshire and West Sussex. Post-mortem examinations were conducted on 34 of these cetaceans, 27 of which were found to have been bycaught, four were live strandings, and one died of pneumonia. In the rest of England and Wales, a further 19 cetacean strandings were reported. The number of strandings is not unusual for this time of year, taking account of the recent adverse weather conditions. Figures are not currently available for the latter months of 2001.
	During the period from 1 January to 31 March in Great Britain, 155 cetaceans were reported as stranding in 2001 (of which 82 were in Devon and Cornwall), 125 in 2000 (of which 53 animals were found in Devon and Cornwall), 114 in 1999 and 113 animals were reported in 1998.
	For Devon and Cornwall, from January 1991 to December 2001 post-mortem examinations were carried out on 186 dolphins, 75 per cent. of these were diagnosed as having died of bycatch, and 79 harbour porpoises, 48 per cent. of which were bycaught.

Mackerel Box Regulations

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with fishing nations which have industrial trawler companies with regard to the (a) appropriate enforcement of mackerel box regulations and (b) level of cetacean by-catch.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 12 February 2002
	There have been no recent discussions with other fishing nations about the enforcement of mackerel box regulations. As in previous years the Royal Navy's Fishery Protection Squadron has been tasked by the Department to enforce the EC rules applicable to the mackerel box whether or not vessels are engaged in human consumption or other fisheries. There are no EC rules specifying levels of cetacean bycatch.

Farm Co-operatives

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farm co-operatives there were in each constituency in each year since 1990.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 February 2002
	Information on the number of farm co-operatives in each constituency is not available.

Woodland

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much woodland there was in (a) absolute and (b) percentage terms in each constituency in each year since 1990.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 February 2002
	This information is not currently available in the format requested. However, the Forestry Commission carries out woodland surveys by county every 1015 years. The most recent surveys were conducted between 19791982 and 199599, and the table shows the findings from each survey.
	
		
			   Inventory of Woodland and Trees 199599  Woodland Census 19791982  
			  Region/county  Land area Woodland area (ha) Woodland cover (%)  Land area Woodland area (ha) Woodland cover (%) 
		
		
			 Greater London 157.916 6,204 3.9 157,946 6,032 3.8 
			
			 South-east   
			 Berkshire 125,879 18,308 14.5 125,891 17,018 13.5 
			 Buckinghamshire 187,673 17,573 9.4 188,285 15,618 8.3 
			 East Sussex 179,541 29,924 16.7 179,519 28,044 15.6 
			 Hampshire 377,872 66,939 17.7 377,685 62,049 16.4 
			 Isle of Wight 38,014 4,549 12.0 38,097 3,695 9.7 
			 Kent 373,499 39,487 10.6 373,063 42,664 11.4 
			 Oxfordshire 260,595 18,235 7.0 260,793 15,369 5.9 
			 Surrey 167,713 37,564 22.4 167,924 31,531 18.8 
			 West Sussex 198,808 37,507 18.9 198,939 34,524 17.4 
			 Region 1,909,594 279,084 14.1 1,910,196 250,512 13.1 
			 South-west   
			 Avon 133,244 8,364 6.3 134,605 6,862 5.1 
			 Cornwall 356,466 26,869 7.5 356,422 18,301 5.1 
			 Devon 670,961 66,660 9.9 671,087 53,813 8.0 
			 Dorset 265,274 28,759 10.8 265,380 25,062 9.4 
			 Gloucestershire 265,327 29,752 11.2 264,263 26,372 10.0 
			 Somerset 345,207 24,291 7.0 345,043 19,300 5.6 
			 Wiltshire 347,605 27,325 7.9 348,070 24,839 7.1 
			 Region 2,384,084 212,021 8.9 2,384,870 174,549 7.3 
			
			 West midlands   
			 Hereford and Worcester 392,346 35,668 9.1 392,648 28,757 7.3 
			 Shropshire 348,767 29,482 8.5 349,014 25,275 7.2 
			 Staffordshire 271,545 21,175 7.8 271,616 16,936 6.2 
			 Warwickshire 197,854 9,390 4.7 198,053 6,883 3.5 
			 West midlands 89,874 2,759 3.1 89,942 1,827 2.0 
			 Region 1,300,386 98,474 7.6 1,301,273 79,678 6.1 
			
			 East   
			 Bedfordshire 123,557 7,655 6.2 123,467 6,184 5.0 
			 Cambridgeshire 339,963 12,325 3.6 340,901 6,612 1.9 
			 Essex 367,344 19,456 5.3 367,188 14,996 4.1 
			 Hertfordshire 163,928 15,503 9.5 163,418 12,370 7.6 
			 Norfolk 537,234 52,739 9.8 536,823 42,697 8.0 
			 Suffolk 379,839 31,435 8.3 379,667 28,211 7.4 
			 Region 1,911,865 139,112 7.3 1,911,464 111,070 5.8 
			
			 East midlands   
			 Derbyshire 262,858 19,512 7.4 263,096 13,299 5.1 
			 Leicestershire 255,087 9,660 3.8 255,293 7,741 3.0 
			 Lincolnshire 592,091 18,903 3.2 591,484 18,774 3.2 
			 Northamptonshire 236,697 14,498 6.1 236,734 11,909 5.0 
			 Nottinghamshire 215,980 17,298 8.0 216,365 15,058 7.0 
			 Region 1,562,713 79,871 5.1 1,562,972 66,781 4.3 
			
			 Yorkshire and the Humber   
			 Humberside 350,806 9,080 2.6 351,226 9,617 2.7 
			 North Yorkshire 839,949 60,843 7.3 830,869 55,852 6.7 
			 South Yorkshire 155,941 11,551 7.4 156,049 10,398 6.7 
			 West Yorkshire 203,417 10,607 5.2 203,912 9,350 4.6 
			 Region 1,541,113 92,081 6.0 1,542,056 85,217 5.5 
			
			 North-east   
			 Cleveland 59,652 3,790 6.4 58,307 3,361 5.8 
			 Durham 242,907 15,540 6.4 243,591 13,934 5.7 
			 Northumberland 502,594 80,645 16.0 503,166 75,770 15.1 
			 Tune and Wear 54,033 2,892 5.4 54,005 1,690 3.1 
			 Region 859,186 102,867 12.0 859,069 94,755 11.0 
			
			 North-west   
			 Cheshire 233,107 10,337 4.4 232,846 8,842 3.8 
			 Cumbria 682,333 64,582 9.5 681,015 54,450 8.0 
			 Greater Manchester 128,584 4,696 3.7 128,674 2,649 2.1 
			 Lancashire 306,978 14,078 4.6 306,347 11,477 3.7 
			 Merseyside 65,516 2,478 3.8 65,202 1,677 2.6 
			 Region 1,416,518 96,171 6.8 1,414,084 79,095 5.6 
			
			 England 13,043,370 1,096,885 8.4 13,043,927 947,688 7.3 
		
	
	Note:
	NIWT land area, including inland water, based on digital boundaries used in the 1991 Census of Population

Secondments

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the names of staff who have been seconded to her Department from the private sector since May 1997, indicating (a) the names of the organisation from which each has come, (b) their responsibilities and civil service grades within her Department, (c) the organisation responsible for paying their salary and (d) the start and end dates of their secondment.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Due to confidentiality I am not able to release the names of the individuals that have been seconded to the Department. Two members of staff have been seconded from the private sector, one from July to December 1999, the other from September 2001 to May 2002. Both were seconded from the BBC at approximately grade seven level and paid by the BBC.

Energy Efficiency

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to encourage energy efficiency in commercial buildings.

Michael Meacher: We have set up the Carbon Trust to promote business and public sector energy efficiency and the take-up of low carbon technology. We will be consulting on a CHP strategy shortly to promote this highly energy efficient technology. The climate change levy, and its associated climate change agreements, are also an important spur to business energy efficiency. But there remains a great unrealised potential for energy efficiency and the Department will be considering strategies to further enhance its role in the future.

BSE

Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) on 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 905W, whether she can update the House on the measures her Department has taken to trace the offspring of BSE cases.

Elliot Morley: As a result of further checks, it has now become clear that two more offspring of BSE cases have been sold for human consumption, one in December and one in January. Some meat from the latter has been prevented from going into the food chain. These cases are being investigated. Measures are being taken to tighten up procedure and we are considering taking legal action.
	Passports thought to have been held by officials outside animal health divisional offices were in fact returned to owners, enabling the animals to be sold despite the fact restriction notices were properly served on the owners, informing them the animals were not to be sold for human consumption. Consumer protection is provided by the over-30-month rule, the removal of specified risk material and the ban on the feeding of mammalian meat and bone meal to all farm livestock. These measures were applied in these cases.

Animal Welfare

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's plans for the future of the live animal export trade; and what plans she has for the banning of this trade.

Elliot Morley: The Government have been consistent in their view that a trade in meat is preferable to the long distance transport of animals for slaughter. It is a matter that will be considered when the European Commission produces its proposals to update and improve the current EU rules on animal welfare during transport. The Government have no powers to introduce a ban on this trade. Judgments by the European Court of Justice have made it quite clear that such a ban would be illegal.

Pornography

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with newspaper and journal wholesalers who insist on individual newsagents taking pornography with their newspaper orders.

Elliot Morley: None. This is not a matter for this Department.

Horse Passports

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she intends to implement Commission Decision 2000/68 on horse passports and to ensure that the new system meets the needs of the horse industry.

Alun Michael: We have carefully considered the responses to the consultation exercise carried out on the implementation of Commission Decision 2000/68. Taking account of these views and the need to comply with the terms of the Decision the Government have decided that by 31 December 2003 all horses and ponies must have passports. The Government also intend to introduce a unique identification number for all horses and ponies.
	Owners and keepers of horses and ponies which are not currently registered will be required to register these animals with one of the appropriate approved equine organisations. The owners of these animals and the owners of registered horses and ponies which currently do not have passports, will be required to obtain passports from the approved organisations. We will require that owners of horses and ponies which currently have passports be issued with the new extended passport containing details of veterinary medicines administered.
	Discussions are now taking place with industry organisations about detailed implementation arrangements.
	The Government also consider that it is vital to establish a central database of basic information on horses which could be used for disease control and other purposes and will establish the necessary arrangements following discussion with the horse industry in order to achieve this end with a minimum of bureaucracy and at minimum costs.

CAP

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how CAP funding is spent in the United Kingdom broken down by (a) types of schemes and (b) nations.

Elliot Morley: pursuant to his reply, 5 February 2002, c. 896W
	My answer referred to a table entitled Subsidies Paid Directly to Farmers in 2001. The last two rows of the table showed values for total other subsidies and total subsidies. Unfortunately, these totals included some double counting. A new table providing the correct information is annexed. The rest of the answer remains unchanged.
	
		Subsidies paid directly to farmers in 2001 --  million
		
			   England  Wales  Scotland Northern Ireland  UK 
		
		
			 Subsidies on product  
			 Crop subsidies  
			 Arable area payments on:  
			 Wheat 330 2 16 1 349 
			 Barley 180 5 68 7 259 
			 Other cereal crops 22 1 5 (49) 27 
			 Oilseed rape 94 (49) 9 (49) 103 
			 Linseed 10 (49) (49) (49) 10 
			 Peas and beans-stockfeed and human consumption 67 (49) 1 (50) 68 
			 Other crops 7 1 (49) (49) 8 
			   
			 Other crop subsidies 3 (50) (49) (50) 3 
			   
			 Livestock subsidies:  
			 Beef special premium 126 24 46 46 242 
			 Suckler cow premium 80 25 61 45 211 
			 Slaughter premium 49 7 13 15 84 
			 Extensification payment scheme 50 15 34 27 126 
			 Over-30-months scheme 91 17 23 26 157 
			 Beef national envelope 11 3 8 5 26 
			 Sheep annual premium 74 53 42 13 182 
			 FMD light lambs 1 2 2 (50) 5 
			   
			 Other subsidies  
			 Dairy agrimonetary compensation 56 8 6 9 79 
			 Total subsidies on products 1,249 162 334 194 1,940 
			   
			 Other subsidies  
			 Set-aside 162 1 20 1 184 
			 Other animal disease compensation 11 1 (49) 16 29 
			 Less favoured areas support schemes 42 42 61 18 164 
			   
			 Agri-environment schemes: 145 34 34 7 220 
			 Countryside Stewardship 49 (50) (50) (50) 49 
			 Countryside Premium (Scotland) (50) (50) 9 (50) 9 
			 Tir Cymen and Tir Gofal (50) 13 (50) (50) 13 
			 Organic Farming 27 3 5 (49) 35 
			 Environmentally Sensitive Areas 48 7 10 5 71 
			 Nitrate Sensitive Areas 3 (50) (50) (50) 3 
			 Woodland Schemes 8 (49) 5 2 14 
			 SSSI(51) 9 2 5 (50) 16 
			 Other 2 8 (49) (49) 10 
			 Total other subsidies 360 79 115 43 596 
			 Total subsidies 1,609 242 449 237 2,536 
		
	
	(49) Negligible, less than 0.5
	(50) Not applicable
	(51) Payments for sites of special scientific interest are not part of CAP

WALES

Mobile Telephones

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for 199798 and for each subsequent financial year, the amount spent (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad by (i) his Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) its non-departmental public bodies on (1) providing mobile telephone equipment, including handsets and other associated equipment, (2) telephone calls made using such equipment and (3) telephone calls made using privately owned mobile telephones but subsequently reclaimed by (x) Ministers and (y) staff.

Paul Murphy: This information is not readily available.

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in each of the last four years.

Paul Murphy: The notional cost of the accountancy services provided to the Wales Office by the National Assembly for Wales was 25,000 in 200001 and 19,000 in 19992000 (for the period July to March). The figure for 200102 is not yet available and figures are not available for the former Welsh Office.

National Assembly

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the Welsh Assembly Government regarding the further devolution of powers to the National Assembly for Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: I meet the First Minister and other Assembly Ministers regularly to discuss matters of common interest, including the suggestion that animal health powers should be transferred to the Assembly.

Devolved Functions

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues concerning devolving more functions to the National Assembly for Wales.

Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with my colleagues about a variety of issues, including representations made to me by the National Assembly for Wales.

Ministerial Boxes

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what means ministerial boxes are conveyed from private offices in his Department to (a) himself and (b) his fellow Ministers; how frequently and at what expense private courier firms are employed for such a task; and which courier firms have been used for such duties.

Paul Murphy: Ministerial boxes originating from this Department are transported to Ministers' homes either by Government car or by a service provided by the Royal Mail.

Enron

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what meetings Wales Office Ministers have had since 1997 with Enron representatives; and on what dates.

Paul Murphy: None since the establishment of the Wales Office in July 1999.

HEALTH

Departmental Expenditure Limit

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to amend the Department of Health departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limit for 200102.

Alan Milburn: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Department of Health, Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be increased by 231,363,000 from 50,573,402,000 to 50,804,765,000. This includes a change in the Administration Cost Limit which will decrease by 3,584,000 from 321,935,000 to 318,351,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are set out in the following table.
	
		000 
		
			  Resources Capital 
		
		
			 Change 538,562 -307,199 
			 New DEL 48,872,673 1,932,092 
			 Of which voted 49,364,233 483,499 
			 Non-voted -491,560 1,448,593 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from the take up of end-year flexibility 120,000,000 for health authority allocations as set out in Table 6 of the Public Expenditure 200001 Provisional Outturn White Paper Cm 5243 published in July 2001. A claim of 30,000,000 on the Reserve for variant CJD compensation. An additional 6,267.000 from HM Treasury as a result of technical adjustments following changes in accounting arrangements for some PFI schemes. A net transfer to the National Assembly of Wales of 2,493,000, 3,683,000 for out-of-area treatment costs, dental service increment for teaching, cross border flows and high security psychiatric services, partially offset by a transfer of 1,190,000 for regional re-costing and post graduate education. Transfers from Northern Ireland totalling 2,030,000, 68,000 for post graduate training, 1,941,000 for out of area treatment costs and 21,000 (of which 7,000 administration costs) for contributions to committees and non-departmental public bodies. Transfer to the Home Office of 1,569,000, 2,767,000 for drug action teams and match funded social care projects, offset by 1,098,000 for costs arising from the Victoria Climbie Inquiry and 100,000 for medium secure units. A net transfer to the Department for Education and Skills of 613,000, comprising of 750,000 for the National Institute of Psychiatry and 100,000 for a learning and development website package, offset by a transfer of 237,000 for the costs of Protection of Children Act tribunal and Care Standards tribunal. Transfer to the Lord Chancellors Department of 164,000, (of which 123,000 administration costs) for Care Standards tribunals and family health services appeals authority recruitment. A transfer to the Department for Work and Pensions of 1,095,000 for the road traffic accidents work of the compensation recovery unit. A transfer from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions of 80,000,000, for building care capacity offset by 1,000,000, for the Rough Sleepers Unit.
	The administration cost limit has decreased by 3,584,000 from 321,935,000 to 318,351,000. In addition to the changes detailed above there is an increase of 2,290,000, mainly for education and training and the modernisation agency, offset by 5,758,000, for capitalised in house software developments and other IT software and hardware.The increases will be offset by inter-departmental transfers and the planned total of public claim on the reserve, and will not therefore add to expenditure.

Consultants

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 5 November, Official Report, column 111W, what restrictions on doctors within the non-consultant grades with potential to become consultants he regards as unnecessary; when he plans to remove these restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 19 November 2001
	In order to be appointed to a consultant post in the national health service, a doctor has to have his or her name included on the specialist register. This register lists the names of those doctors who hold the United Kingdom Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) or, for doctors trained overseas, enter the UK already possessing qualifications considered by the specialist training authority of the medical royal colleges (STA) to be equivalent to a CCST. There is no provision, in law, for doctors with specialist medical training, but no formal qualification, to enter the register. Similarly, there is no provision for doctors wishing to 'top-up' their specialist training to the required standard by undertaking further training in the UK then to enter the specialist register.
	We wish to amend these provisions to provide a route to the specialist register through an 'equivalence of training' provision. A doctor would be assessed by the STA to evaluate whether the sum of his or her training and qualifications, wherever obtained, is equivalent to a CCST in his or her specialty in the UK. This will provide a direct, assessed route to the specialist register while ensuring that standards do not slip and that patient safety is not compromised.
	Our aim, subject to consultation and parliamentary approval, is to have the amended legislation in place by summer 2002.

Approved Hospital Providers (EU)

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision he has made in relation to liability of approved hospital providers in the EU.

John Hutton: An overseas provider treating a national health service patient pursuant to a contract with an NHS commissioning body will clearly be potentially liable to the patient for any medical negligence. However, although the law is not fully developed in this area, English courts may decide that the NHS body commissioning that treatment was also potentially liable. Commissioners therefore need to seek appropriate indemnities against any claims from foreign providers.

Nurses

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses have been (a) disciplined and (b) sacked for (i) drug-taking offences and (ii) stealing NHS medical drugs in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: holding answer 8 January 2002
	Data for the discipline or sacking of nurses involved with drug-taking offences or stealing of national health service medical NHS drugs are not collected centrally but may be held at a local level by employers.

Nurses

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times agency staff were used to fulfil shifts in acute hospitals by (a) authority area and (b) trust presented (i) numerically and (ii) as a proportion of all nurse shifts for each of the last three years for which figures are available.

John Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, information from the Audit Commissioning report 2001 states that on a typical day about 20,000 bank and agency staff work in national health service trusts, covering 10 per cent. of shifts.

Solvent Abuse

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths attributed to solvent abuse there have been in each year since 1995.

Hazel Blears: Statistics collected by St. George's Medical School show that there were 65 deaths in 1995; 79 in deaths in 1997; 70 deaths in 1998; and 73 deaths in 1999 in the United Kingdom associated with volatile substance abuse (VSA). Deaths in 1999 were less than half the number recorded at their peak in 1990. We take any deaths associated with VSA very seriously and are committed to continuing action to address this problem.
	It is particularly important that young people should know about the dangers of abusing volatile substances. We are supporting a programme that will enable general practitioners and other health care professionals to assist teachers in communicating health messages about the dangers of drugs and other solvents. Other measures to address this issue include a campaign to inform retailers about the risks of volatile substance abuse, and their responsibilities under the law. The Department is also working with voluntary organisations to develop training packages for professionals working with young people at risk of abusing volatile substances.

Waiting Lists

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts have been subject to waiting list spot checks since the publication of the National Audit Office report into irregularities in waiting lists.

John Hutton: We are in active discussion with the Audit Commission on the detailed implementation of spot checks on national health service trusts to ensure that waiting list data are independently verified.

Advertising Campaigns

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will list the advertising campaigns which he and his predecessors have commissioned since May 1997, showing for each (a) its objectives, (b) its beginning and end dates, (c) the media used, (d) the criteria adopted to judge its effectiveness, (e) the extent to which the effectiveness criteria were met, (f) agency involvement and (g) its cost;
	(2)  if he will list the advertising campaigns commissioned by (a) his Department and (b) the national health service since May 1997, showing for each (i) its objectives, (ii) its beginning and end dates, (iii) the media used, (iv) the criteria adopted to judge its effectiveness, (v) the extent to which effectiveness criteria were met, (vi) any agency involvement and (vii) its cost.

Hazel Blears: Major advertising campaigns commissioned by the Department's communications directorate since May 1997 are shown in the table.
	
		 million 
		
			   199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102(52) 
		
		
			 Antibiotics   0.17  0.44 
			 Blood donation 0.60 1.70 (53)0.22   
			 CALM 0.05 
			 Children's services0.60 0.17 
			 Drugs   0.34   
			 Flu2.00 1.45 
			 Mind out 0.13 
			 National health service including nurse recruitment 1.30 4.90 4.21 4.90 4.41 
			 NHS Direct 0.12 0.78 1.20 1.15 1.38 
			 Organ donation  0.77 0.47 0.38 0.20 
			 Prescription fraud  0.38  0.18  
			 Sexual health 0.2 
			 Sexwise/teenage pregnancy   0.39 1.5 2.0 
			 Social worker recruitment 1.0 
			 Smoking   (54)6.18 8.97 7.24 
			 Walk-in centres0.02  
			 Winter   1.07 2.35 0.2 
			 Working family tax credit 0.05 
		
	
	(52) Planned (to be updated)
	(53) The Department's spend on blood donation advertising reduced in 19992000 because most of this activity was funded directly by the National Blood Authority, who took over full responsibility for this expenditure on 1 April 2000.
	(54) Prior to 19992000 advertising on smoking was undertaken by the Health Education Authority (HEA).
	Information about NHS expenditure is collected centrally and published annually in the Health and Personal Social Statistics for England.

Lymington Hospital

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients are waiting for (a) hearing tests and (b) other audiology treatment at the Lymington hospital;
	(2)  how many patients have been waiting for (a) less than one year, (b) more than one year and (c) more than two years for a hearing test at the Lymington hospital at the latest available date;
	(3)  what the waiting time is for a hearing test at the Lymington hospital.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 22 January 2002
	The data requested are not collected centrally.

Departmental Secondments (Energy Industry)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were seconded between (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and his Department in (i) 19992000, (ii) 200001 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Interchange is a key component of the reform agenda. The Modernising Government White Paper committed us to increasing interchange, in particular by bringing in more people on secondment and sending more of our people out. Secondments and attachments are part of the interchange initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the civil service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: voluntary, education, health, public and private.
	Centrally held records in the Department show that there have been no secondments between the Department and the companies asked about.

NHS Dentistry (Birkenhead)

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in the Birkenhead constituency are taking national health service patients; and how many were taking patients five years ago.

Hazel Blears: At present in Birkenhead (excluding Woodchurch and Upton wards), there are 15 practices taking national health service patients (13 general dental surgeons (GDS) and two orthodontic specialists) with a total of 30 dentists working from these practices. Five years ago, for the same area, there were 15 practices (14 GDS and one orthodontic specialist).

Hospital Television Viewing

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the provision of pay-to-view television for patients in (a) the James Paget hospital in Gorlston, Norfolk and (b) other NHS hospitals; and whether NHS hospitals are permitted to cease provision of free-to-air television.

Hazel Blears: National Health Service Estates has worked with staff in trusts, and potential suppliers to set up a national licensing system that allows suppliers, who have demonstrated that they have the capacity to install and effectively manage a bedside communication and entertainment system, to provide the service in NHS hospitals.
	The suppliers are responsible for all aspects of installation, managing and running the service and for any associated costs. They make a charge to the patient for use of the services provided. The trust does not bear any of the cost of either the installation or running of the service.
	Patients at the James Paget hospital will have the choice of pay-to-view television at their bedside or free television viewing in the hospital day rooms. NHS Estates specified to trusts and suppliers, at the outset, that access to the free televisions in communal rooms and payphone telephones would not cease to exist as a result of the introduction of the bedside services. These will remain an alternative for patients who do not wish to use bedside services.

Professor James Malone-Lee

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what contact there has been between his Department and Professor James Malone-Lee since 1 January;
	(2)  pursuant to the oral statement of 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 880W, what involvement Professor Malone-Lee had in the drafting of the letter from the Whittington hospital read out by the Prime Minister.

John Hutton: Department of Health officials routinely discuss management issues with staff at national health service trusts. However, there was no contact with Professor James Malone-Lee, the medical director of the Whittington hospital, in order to discuss the Evening Standard letter. The letter that appeared in the Evening Standard, read out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 880, is the property of the Whittington hospital NHS trust.

Whittington Hospital

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions there were between Government press officers and trust managers and medical directors of the Whittington hospital between 16 and 23 January; and whether the Medical Director's statement was (a) shown to, (b) amended by and (c) discussed with Government press officers.

John Hutton: Departmental officials routinely discuss management issues with staff at national health service trusts. These discussions can from time to time include issues that have been reported in the news media. Between 16 and 23 January, department of health press officers, as well as other officials, discussed with the trust's chief executive, but not its medical director, several stories that had appeared about the Whittington hospital in the Evening Standard. When it became clear that the staff at the Whittington had responded to these stories by writing to that newspaper, the Department's press office asked for a copy of their letter. At no time was the Department's press office's approval of, or assistance with, that letter either sought or offered; and nor was there any discussion between Departmental officials and the medical director of the Whittington Hospital NHS Trust about any of his public statements about media reporting of the trust.

Whittington Hospital

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will respond to the question from the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) of 24 January Ref 31140 regarding the Whittington hospital.

John Hutton: I refer to the hon. Member to my previous answer.

Fair Trade Fortnight

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage participation by his Department in fair trade fortnight from 4 to 17 March.

Hazel Blears: The Department have yet to receive an invitation to this event, whether as a group of delegates or as exhibitors.
	Generally, national health service trusts are approached directly by the organisations that run these ventures and it is for them to decide whether to attend.
	The Department for International Development is providing 120,000 to the Fair Trade Foundation over three years (200103) in support of its efforts to target new groups through the annual Fairtrade Fortnight campaigns. My hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for International Development will be attending the launch of this year's campaign on 4 March 2002.

It Contracts

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total expenditure of his Department on IT systems and support in each year from May 1997 to date; how many IT contracts have been let in each of those years; of the other main contracting party in each of those contracts, how many have been (a) companies whose registered office is in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland and (b) foreign companies; and what are the names of the companies falling within category (a).

Hazel Blears: The Department's total information technology spend for financial years 199899, 19992000 and 200001 as follows:
	
		
			 Year  million 
		
		
			 19981999 23.5 
			 19992000 23.0 
			 200001 22.9 
		
	
	There is no readily accessible information for financial year 199798 and material for 200102 is not yet available.
	Information on the other aspects of the question is not available in an easily accessible form and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Consultancy Services

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts were let by his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to (a) PWC Consulting or PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Ernst and Young, (c) Deloitte and Touche, (d) KPMG and (e) Andersen for consultancy services for the financial years (i) 199798, (ii) 199899, (iii) 19992000, (iv) 200001 and (v) 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available, indicating the remuneration in each case.

Hazel Blears: The Department does not centrally hold a record of individual contracts. However our financial records show the following total payments made by the Department and its agencies to (a) PWC Consulting or PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Ernst and Young, (c) Deloitte and Touche, (d) KPMG and (e) Andersen for consultancy services by fiscal year since April 1997:
	
		 
		
			   Fiscal year  
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 (a) PWC Consulting 143,711 196,890 244,670 1,052,892 308,364 
			 (b) Ernst and Young 26,230 18,234 58,603 71,200 66,677 
			 (c) Deloitte and Touche 72,350 45,445 11,084 60,614 342,730 
			 (d) KPMG 331,712 166,943 546,453 267,981 1,202,720 
			 (e) Andersen 51,547 77,226 70,000 71,774 70,000

Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects NHS Estates to put forward proposed terms to the Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association for the acquisition of the site adjoining St. Ebba's Hospital.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 5 February 2002
	The district valuer has been instructed to act on behalf of National Health Service Estates/the Secretary of State for Health in this matter. Negotiations with the Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association are on-going and it is understood that the Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association are currently considering an offer which has been made to them.

Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the information about the number of people living within 20 minutes drive prepared by the DTLR and presented to the management team of the Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust as part of its strategic review in 200001.

John Hutton: holding answer 5 February 2002
	The management team of Epsom and St. Helier national health service trust are unaware of any submissions by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in response to the strategy document Investing in Excellence.
	The management consultancy SECTA, however, was commissioned by Epsom and St. Helier NHS trust to conduct some further work on site option development. Although a report was never produced a presentation was made on the work in progress to the trust at an executive team awayday in February 2001. Details of the presentation have been placed in the Library.

Probiotics

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of prescription of probiotics by the NHS was in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Information is not collected centrally on which, if any, of the products, which have been prescribed, contain or are composed of probiotics.

Probiotics

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department plans to encourage the prescribing of probiotics; and if he will make as statement.

Hazel Blears: We have no plans to do so.

Health Authority Expenditure (Dorset and Somerset)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the expenditure by weighted head by health authorities and primary care trusts is different in Dorset health authority from that in Somerset health authority; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 6 February 2002
	Expenditure per weighted head cannot be reliably compared between different health authorities and primary care trusts. Somerset health authority had no primary care trusts in 200001 and Dorset health authority had four primary care trusts.
	In many health authorities there are factors which distort the expenditure per head. These include: the health authority acting in a lead capacity to commission health care or fund training on behalf of other health bodies; asset revaluations in national health service trusts being funded through health authorities; and some double counting of expenditure between health authorities and primary care trusts within the health authority area.
	In the case of Dorset and Somerset health authorities, all the above factors occur which distort the expenditure per weighted head of population.
	Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of health authorities.
	Health authorities and primary care trusts should account for their expenditure on a gross basis. This results in a considerable element of double counting in Dorset where the health authority acts as the main commissioner and is then reimbursed by the primary care trusts. The effect of this double counting cannot be identified exactly from the accounts.

The Bulletin

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the leaflet The Bulletin issued to general practitioners has cost since its inception.

John Hutton: Currently the GP Bulletin is circulated to all general practitioners in England. Around 50 per cent. of GPs receive The Bulletin electronically, the remainder receive it by hard copy distribution.
	Since its inception the Department has issued seven editions of The Bulletin, each edition costing around 43,768 (value added tax inclusive). The cost will vary slightly with size.
	The Department is conscious of the cost of hard copy distribution. Future editions will be circulated electronically, reducing the cost of distribution approximately to 21,000 (VAT inclusive).

Complaints Procedure

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a right of appeal for a patient against a decision made by an internal NHS inquiry following a complaint against a medical practitioner; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The national health service complaints procedure already contains an independent review element if a complainant is not happy with the initial response to their complaint at local resolution. A complainant also has the option of complaining to the health service ombudsman if they are not happy with the response of the NHS to their complaint.

District Nurses

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district nurses there are per head of population in each health authority in the north-west.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 February 2002
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services (HCHS): District nurses employed within health authority areas within the north-west regional office area and per 100,000 population as at 30 September 2001
		
			  Whole-time equivalents Per 100,000 population Headcount Per 100,000 population 
		
		
			 North-west total 1,610 20 1,960 30 
			  
			 QC1 South Lancashire HA 80 20 90 30 
			 QC2 Liverpool HA 120 30 150 30 
			 QC3 Manchester HA 120 30 140 30 
			 QC4 Morecambe Bay HA 70 20 80 30 
			 QC5 St. Helen's and Knowsley HA 50 10 50 10 
			 QC6 Salford and Trafford HA 100 20 120 30 
			 QC7 Sefton HA 50 20 70 20 
			 QC8 Stockport HA 110 40 150 50 
			 QC9 West Pennine HA 110 20 130 30 
			 QCT Bury and Rochdale HA 110 30 140 30 
			 QCV North Cheshire HA 130 40 150 50 
			 QCW South Cheshire HA 130 20 180 30 
			 QCX East Lancashire HA 150 30 190 40 
			 QCY North West Lancashire HA 90 20 100 20 
			 QDA Wigan and Bolton HA 140 20 160 30 
			 QDC Wirral HA 50 20 60 20 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
	3. Figures exclude learners and agency staff.
	Sources:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census
	Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Accident and Emergency Units

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on trends in waiting times in accident and emergency units since 1997.

Hazel Blears: We are committed to reducing waiting times in accident and emergency departments. The NHS Plan set the target to reduce the maximum wait in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge to four hours by 2004.
	Over 12-hour trolley waits have been reduced by over 50 per cent. since 1999 and over 24-hour waits have been virtually eliminated. The NHS is on track to meet the four-hour target, currently 77 per cent. of all accident and emergency attenders spend four hours or less in accident and emergency.

Negligence Claims

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated to meet medical negligence claims in 200203.

Hazel Blears: The budget allocated for clinical negligence for 200203 is 403.276 million.
	This can be found in the Health Authorities Revenue Resource Limits Exposition book, which was published in December 2001, copies of which are available in the Library.

Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were waiting for a first appointment with a consultant at Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford, Essex in June (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

John Hutton: The information requested for numbers of patients waiting 13 weeks or more for a first appointment for Mid Essex Hospital Services national health service trust is shown in the table.
	Separate figures for Broomfield hospital are unavailable.
	
		Total number of patients waiting more than 13 weeks for an -- out-patients appointment
		
			 Month Number 
		
		
			 June 1999 3,284 
			 June 2000 3,212 
			 June 2001 2,146 
		
	
	Source: QM08 quarterly return waiting times collection.

Patient Deaths (Hospital Transfers)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients died (a) in transfer between hospitals and (b) in NHS transport to hospital in the last year for which information is available, broken down by (i) the health authority responsible for the transport involved, (ii) the length of journey by distance, (iii) the condition for which treatment was to be provided and (iv) the type of transport involved.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

NHS Direct Nurse Advisers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) nature and (b) length is of the specialist training for NHS Direct nurse advisers on (i) self-harm and (ii) suicide.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 12 February 2002
	All NHS direct nurse advisers are qualified nurses with several years of front-line experience. They receive a supplementary three-day intensive programme of training to develop their competence in the identification of mental health problems over the telephone which includes assessment of risk of self-harm or suicide. In addition, they are given on-site supervision by a senior mental health nurse; they utilise an interactive CD Rom based training package designed to enhance their general knowledge and understanding of mental health issues, and they attend regular refresher courses.

Community Hospitals (Kent)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what proportion of outpatients from the Kent and Canterbury hospital are being treated in community hospitals;
	(2)  what proportion of outpatients from the East Kent health authority area are being treated at the Faversham Cottage hospital;
	(3) what proportion of outpatients in the East Kent health authority area are being treated in community hospitals.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Eastbourne District General Hospital

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled at the Eastbourne District General Hospital in each of the last 60 months for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Data on cancelled operations were not collected by National Health Service Trust prior to this year (200102). The information is available only for quarters and the figures for Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust are shown in the table.
	
		Last minute cancelled operations for non clinical reasons at Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trusts200102 Quarter 1 and 2
		
			  Quarter Last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons 
		
		
			 1 63 
			 2 85 
		
	
	Source:
	D of H formsQMNG
	Data on cancelled operations were previously provided at health authority level. That information is available in the Library.

Commission for Health Improvement

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the 200001 annual report of the Commission for Health Improvement will be published.

John Hutton: The combined annual report and accounts Holding a mirror up to ourselves is being published today and copies have been placed in the Library.

Correspondence

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for North-East Derbyshire which was acknowledged on 7 December, reference P0000821.

Hazel Blears: A reply was sent to my hon. Friend on 13 February.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he will reply to the letter to him dated 3 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. J Titterington;
	(2)  further to his holding reply, if he will explain the reason for his delay in replying to the letter to him dated 3 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. J. Titterington.

Hazel Blears: A reply was sent to my right hon. Friend's letter of 3 October regarding his constituent Mr. Titterington on 19 November. I apologise for the delay in replying to my right hon. Friend's letter. The initial draft reply did require amendments and there was also a need to liaise with the Home Office due to the subject area.

Nurse Accommodation

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the extra units of nurse accommodation for London nurses set out in the NHS plan are (a) single bedroom units, (b) two bedroom units and (c) houseshare units; and how many (i) are new units and (ii) have been completed.

John Hutton: Since publication of the NHS Plan in July 2000, 803 extra units of new and refurbished rental accommodation have been made available in London. The new accommodation comprises of 687 single rooms, 42 double rooms and 10 studios in clusters of up to six rooms. There are also 64 units in one, two and three bedroom refurbished flats.
	We are aware of a demand for, and look to provide, flexible accommodation which can enable both single and family type of accommodation to be provided. The target of providing 2,000 extra units in London within three years of the NHS Plan is expected to be achieved.

Ambulances

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances in England were leased in 200001; what estimates he made of the number of ambulances in England that will have been leased during 200102; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Government Legal Advisers

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Solicitor-General what proportion of directly employed Government legal advisers have had previous specialist experience of contract law in private practice.

Harriet Harman: Government lawyers are recruited from all fields. They include those who have experience of contract law in private practice. However, such information is not collated and the proportions required could be found only involving a disproportionate cost.